It's true, you can never really know too much. The amount of news / media you can dig up on anything fuckin' blows my mind. I couldn't hope to keep up.
Newest music I ought to check out (still haven't gone through the whole last list):
-all Stone's Throw records
-Bonobo
-Stars
-El-P's latest album
...I'll stop with music.
-Where the fuck do I live, every other day there's a announced as stolen on the local sport compact forum. Earlier this week, a truck/trailer with 2 world challenge Neon SRT-4's inside was stolen in Livonia. The trailer was later burned. WTF, how do you get away with that, much less burn a trailer down? Wow.
-Flying out to Seattle in about a week!!! I can't wait.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Umm, this wasn't in my job description.
Last week one of my bosses asked me what I thought about the work I'd been getting. He was wondering whether or not I was "surprised." I knew exactly what he was getting at, and yes, I was surprised. Well, not so much as I was after starting my internship, but both this position (in Wheels and Tires) and my internship at Chrysler both share a lot of similarities. The big similarity being that the work is FAR MORE project management-based than it is actual engineering. No calculators, engineering pad, or design; just phone calls, e-mails, and... management. Yep, surprise! It gets me kinda bummed, not so much because it feels like I just spent 4.50 years and a lot of my parent's money to be a manager, but because I genuinely enjoy engineering. I like the challenges engineering problems present, and how creativity is encouraged, all the while being supported by fundamental ideas about math (a subject that SUCKS without application), physics, etc. Like any big "engineering"-based company, a lot of that actual engineering stuff has been delegated to the suppliers, who unfortunately often get less respect than deserved, are given crazy demands ("I need a tolerance of 0.000000000000001 mm or we'll find someone else!!!"), and probably don't get the pay / benefits that big companies can dish out. Tough call. At one point my boss was at a supplier doing hardcore engineering work. I forgot to ask him why he left, but there's probably a good reason, like say, being sick of getting yelled at by somebody from a big company day in and day out. He likes what he does now, and is trying to get into a more, shot-calling position, which I'm all for because he seems like a dude that can bring about some change. To be honest, I like what I do in this group too. Yes, I did just get done bitching about how I want to do real engineering work. However, being a guy that has a true appreciation for the wheels and tires, and being handed projects that I see as a real benefit to the company, and also realizing that while not all that technical, the work still requires that engineering brain, I can say that it ain't so bad. At some point, I would like to bust out the engineering pad though. Oh, btw, there are still some highly technical spots at Chrysler, but here's another downer, these guys also don't get the credit or recognition they deserve, or the nutty salary that the management that yells at them is getting.
Since we're on the topic of work, I've got another thing to bitch about. Lately I've tried to make it a habit to drop in regularly on some type of automotive blog, usually Left Lane News. Recently, an internal Chrysler memo surfaced basically saying that surveyed employees at Chrysler are pissed about how bad the Sebring and the Nitro came out. LLN reported on this, and since it's a blog, registered readers can make comments. Many of the comments were bullshit like "if I was an engineer at Chrysler, I would be embarassed" and other shit bashing the engineers. I'd like to give out a big FUCK YOU to anyone that said that shit. Being that I interact with highly capable engineers daily, it pissed me off reading that. What these people don't realize is that many of the major decisions are made by the management and the employees have to work with what they've been given. I can distinctly remember my co-workers (in the Sebring / Avenger synthesis group) from last summer bitching about how the Sebring kept getting cheaped out, and look now, complaints about cheap interiors, etc. I hate shifting blame, but really, many of the brighter people weren't making the calls.
I'll try to make my next post NOT related to work, haha.
Since we're on the topic of work, I've got another thing to bitch about. Lately I've tried to make it a habit to drop in regularly on some type of automotive blog, usually Left Lane News. Recently, an internal Chrysler memo surfaced basically saying that surveyed employees at Chrysler are pissed about how bad the Sebring and the Nitro came out. LLN reported on this, and since it's a blog, registered readers can make comments. Many of the comments were bullshit like "if I was an engineer at Chrysler, I would be embarassed" and other shit bashing the engineers. I'd like to give out a big FUCK YOU to anyone that said that shit. Being that I interact with highly capable engineers daily, it pissed me off reading that. What these people don't realize is that many of the major decisions are made by the management and the employees have to work with what they've been given. I can distinctly remember my co-workers (in the Sebring / Avenger synthesis group) from last summer bitching about how the Sebring kept getting cheaped out, and look now, complaints about cheap interiors, etc. I hate shifting blame, but really, many of the brighter people weren't making the calls.
I'll try to make my next post NOT related to work, haha.
Monday, June 4, 2007
RIP GREEN LANTERN.
So it's been about a month since my car got jacked. In some ways, I got over it pretty quickly, in other ways, I don't think I'll ever be over it ==>
I'll never be over it because a) it's not just a car. It was my car. Picking up this car was one of the last things my dad and I did together before he passed away. There's blood (really), sweat, tears, money, time, muscle, ME, that's gone into this car. I got a lot of joy just from taking it down the street. I loved getting compliments on it and was proud of what I considered a good expression of who I was. I changed a lot of minds with that car; a lot of people would talk to me surprised to find out that not every Honda enthusiast isn't some dumbass kid saving up for a bodykit b) it's a really disheartening feeling knowing that some fucker out there is rockin' my rims, suspension, motor while not knowing or caring about what that shit meant to me c) money is money, but there was money in that car that the insurance company won't give me back. Also, how do you pay back time?
I'm over it because a) it's just a car. I was blessed to have it in the first place. Thanks God. I know who stole it and could go fight for justice (fuckin' DPD, what a joke), but it's not worth dying over. I have insurance for a reason b) it was the first car that I got modded relatively heavily (hopefully not my last) and as a result, made tons of mistakes and bad decisions that I wish I could've taken back c) it had it's share of problems that I would eventually have to deal with d) while a lot of me (and $$$) did go into that car, that car and my existence related to it lived in the moment, so while I can't get any of that investment back, I can say it was good while it lasted e) I can bounce back, and fully intend to... just give me about a year and y'all will know what time it is.
RIP Green Lantern. Thanks for the good times / memories / education / unification / etc. Also, I don't know how many of the homies actually read this, but thank you for enjoying the GS-R with me, it wouldn't have been the same w/out you guys.
...The list of stories with this car would run forever, but here are a couple.
-We dumped that fucker after 4 days of owning it. Thanks Nick (one of the OG's of slammed Hondas and wheel whoring).
-Savage money shift from 3rd to 2nd. 11000 RPMs = 4 bent exhaust valves. Yikes.
-Internal work / dyno day with homemadeturbo.com went awesome. Thank you Jeff Frank for throwing down some of your expertise on this car & thank you Dave Lee for an awesome Uberdata tune.
-Full throttle launch a 4000 RPM w/GS-R tranny = FTW. Full throttle launch at 4000 RPM w/ITR tranny = FTL.
-One night at Coulon, I raced a swapped EJ1 to find a cop at the end of the "track". Me and Phang dipped through the parking lot and into an alley, before we could get caught. Whew.
-Hobey, Jeff, Glenn and I trying to fuck with some seized H&R coilovers that I bought off some guy. We messed those things up pretty nicely, but I later traded them for some ol' school Racing Harts. The guy fixed them btw.
-Some notable kills: A few ITR's. CTR-swapped EK w/ITB's. Built LS. S2K (driver error). A couple WRX's. GS-R-swapped EG. Some Mustangs (94+?). Other GS-Rs. 240sx's (KA's). IS300. A couple ZC-swapped CRX's. A couple SE-R's. EM1's.........
-Battle of the Imports Seattle, 1st place Street Stock. LoL, I prepped for this event a lot (gutted interior, open header, etc.), and ended up running unopposed. Free money is awesome. I was faster than many non-swapped NA 4 cylinders out there (part of the S/S requirement) so it wasn't totally lame.
-Open header pulls, wow.
-Auto-X, consistent novice finishes were pretty nice, especially on the Ebay coilovers haha.
-Being in the Honda scene and all the people I've met buying/selling parts, racing, etc.
-Mobbin' 5-10 cars deep to Alki beach, whatever party was goin' on, etc. etc.
-Private drag meets w/the homies and Racelab (RIP).
-Eddie and I driving down to Oaksdale each to race someone. Him in his Z32 vs. Bobby's S14, and me vs. Tony's ITR. Haha, I think we both lost that night, but it was still awesome.
-Getting detained at West Marginal by SPD, wtf.
-Falling asleep under the car.
-Spending countless nights detailing, tightening / loosening / stripping bolts, cruisin' around, using the car.
-Mark (in an E30), Anthony (in an MP3) driving up and down NE Ames Lake Road <== windy and awesome. -The look I'd get when people saw me clearly revving past the indicated GS-R redline and shifting at 8500. -The VTEC scream. ...Okay, I guess it's time to stop, but you get the point. G'night.
...picture me rollin'...
I'll never be over it because a) it's not just a car. It was my car. Picking up this car was one of the last things my dad and I did together before he passed away. There's blood (really), sweat, tears, money, time, muscle, ME, that's gone into this car. I got a lot of joy just from taking it down the street. I loved getting compliments on it and was proud of what I considered a good expression of who I was. I changed a lot of minds with that car; a lot of people would talk to me surprised to find out that not every Honda enthusiast isn't some dumbass kid saving up for a bodykit b) it's a really disheartening feeling knowing that some fucker out there is rockin' my rims, suspension, motor while not knowing or caring about what that shit meant to me c) money is money, but there was money in that car that the insurance company won't give me back. Also, how do you pay back time?
I'm over it because a) it's just a car. I was blessed to have it in the first place. Thanks God. I know who stole it and could go fight for justice (fuckin' DPD, what a joke), but it's not worth dying over. I have insurance for a reason b) it was the first car that I got modded relatively heavily (hopefully not my last) and as a result, made tons of mistakes and bad decisions that I wish I could've taken back c) it had it's share of problems that I would eventually have to deal with d) while a lot of me (and $$$) did go into that car, that car and my existence related to it lived in the moment, so while I can't get any of that investment back, I can say it was good while it lasted e) I can bounce back, and fully intend to... just give me about a year and y'all will know what time it is.
RIP Green Lantern. Thanks for the good times / memories / education / unification / etc. Also, I don't know how many of the homies actually read this, but thank you for enjoying the GS-R with me, it wouldn't have been the same w/out you guys.
...The list of stories with this car would run forever, but here are a couple.
-We dumped that fucker after 4 days of owning it. Thanks Nick (one of the OG's of slammed Hondas and wheel whoring).
-Savage money shift from 3rd to 2nd. 11000 RPMs = 4 bent exhaust valves. Yikes.
-Internal work / dyno day with homemadeturbo.com went awesome. Thank you Jeff Frank for throwing down some of your expertise on this car & thank you Dave Lee for an awesome Uberdata tune.
-Full throttle launch a 4000 RPM w/GS-R tranny = FTW. Full throttle launch at 4000 RPM w/ITR tranny = FTL.
-One night at Coulon, I raced a swapped EJ1 to find a cop at the end of the "track". Me and Phang dipped through the parking lot and into an alley, before we could get caught. Whew.
-Hobey, Jeff, Glenn and I trying to fuck with some seized H&R coilovers that I bought off some guy. We messed those things up pretty nicely, but I later traded them for some ol' school Racing Harts. The guy fixed them btw.
-Some notable kills: A few ITR's. CTR-swapped EK w/ITB's. Built LS. S2K (driver error). A couple WRX's. GS-R-swapped EG. Some Mustangs (94+?). Other GS-Rs. 240sx's (KA's). IS300. A couple ZC-swapped CRX's. A couple SE-R's. EM1's.........
-Battle of the Imports Seattle, 1st place Street Stock. LoL, I prepped for this event a lot (gutted interior, open header, etc.), and ended up running unopposed. Free money is awesome. I was faster than many non-swapped NA 4 cylinders out there (part of the S/S requirement) so it wasn't totally lame.
-Open header pulls, wow.
-Auto-X, consistent novice finishes were pretty nice, especially on the Ebay coilovers haha.
-Being in the Honda scene and all the people I've met buying/selling parts, racing, etc.
-Mobbin' 5-10 cars deep to Alki beach, whatever party was goin' on, etc. etc.
-Private drag meets w/the homies and Racelab (RIP).
-Eddie and I driving down to Oaksdale each to race someone. Him in his Z32 vs. Bobby's S14, and me vs. Tony's ITR. Haha, I think we both lost that night, but it was still awesome.
-Getting detained at West Marginal by SPD, wtf.
-Falling asleep under the car.
-Spending countless nights detailing, tightening / loosening / stripping bolts, cruisin' around, using the car.
-Mark (in an E30), Anthony (in an MP3) driving up and down NE Ames Lake Road <== windy and awesome. -The look I'd get when people saw me clearly revving past the indicated GS-R redline and shifting at 8500. -The VTEC scream. ...Okay, I guess it's time to stop, but you get the point. G'night.
...picture me rollin'...And there's also this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Mw9qZxQGg
Quick mod$ list I cooked up for the insurance company (formatting got F'd from pasting from Word):
Suspension:
Ground Control coilovers (400f/450r) / Koni adjustable struts
PasswordJDM Strut/Trunk brace
Omni rear upper adjustable control arms
15x6.5 Racing Hart CP-F Tune R's
Ebay intake pipe
AN-R Intake Manifold
Hondata Heat Shield Gasket
Toda Spec A camshafts
Skunk2 cam gears
Uberdata / Chipped P28
Boomslang OBDII to OBD1 Conv. Harness
USDM Integra Type R Transmission
Competition Clutch Stg 2 clutch and 9.5 lb flywheel
Exterior:
Integra Type R front chin spoiler Full re-spray, including shaved moldings, "integra" indent on bumpers, emblems Electronics / Interior:
Viper alarm system
Quick mod$ list I cooked up for the insurance company (formatting got F'd from pasting from Word):
Suspension:
Ground Control coilovers (400f/450r) / Koni adjustable struts
PasswordJDM Strut/Trunk brace
Omni rear upper adjustable control arms
15x6.5 Racing Hart CP-F Tune R's
Ebay intake pipe
AN-R Intake Manifold
Hondata Heat Shield Gasket
Toda Spec A camshafts
Skunk2 cam gears
Uberdata / Chipped P28
USDM Integra Type R Transmission
Competition Clutch Stg 2 clutch and 9.5 lb flywheel
Exterior:
Integra Type R front chin spoiler
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Gettin' Schooled
I just got an e-mail from my professor confirming that I bombed my first ever graduate school exam. I was 11 points below the mean and because of how the class is graded, I'm in danger of failing. If I bust ass on the second test and the one homework assignment/project we've got, I can get through the class w/an 84%. I got screwed over on one of the problems because I wasn't sure how to work it out. I've had some pretty epic bombs in the past, but I've been able to bounce back thanks to good teachers and references, something this class doesn't have. Hopefully I'll recover.
On that note, I'm finding that like my undergrad at UW, high school, work, certain aspects of life, there's a game to be played; I just have to learn how to play this one.
Bad professors FTL. He said it was "sad" that we had to use calculators to graph sin waves during the mid-term; well it's sad that he's got trouble packaging material in a way that students would be able to understand. I'm not blaming my shit score on him (because clearly some people get it), but in general, the class is struggling to understand wtf he's writing on the bored.
On that note, I'm finding that like my undergrad at UW, high school, work, certain aspects of life, there's a game to be played; I just have to learn how to play this one.
Bad professors FTL. He said it was "sad" that we had to use calculators to graph sin waves during the mid-term; well it's sad that he's got trouble packaging material in a way that students would be able to understand. I'm not blaming my shit score on him (because clearly some people get it), but in general, the class is struggling to understand wtf he's writing on the bored.
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