So this is it. From the months of inactivity on Friendster, plus the disaster of Friendster blog migration, and my becoming way more active on Facebook, I’m shutting down this blog. Its documented a couple of years of my life and has served me well, but now is the time to move on.
This blog is now moving to Blogger, and is linked to my Facebook account.
My new blog is here.
My facebook account is here.
So, for the first time, I’ve run out of TiVo space because of those couple hundred hours of Olympics recorded on the DVR. Grrr..
I’ve lost most of the stuff I was saving for a nice TV weekend (like I ever have those anymore). Anyhoo, Presidential Convention coverage will need to be seen live.
Oh, and after what, 6 months? I’m back blogging hehehe..
So, looks like I’m caught up in the Olympic fever along with everyone else, and aside from the teeth-chattering men’s still rings event (where it looks like the athletes could break their arms at any moment on the rings), I’m watching every moment of it. However, with work and at least 8 hours of Olympic coverage every day, keeping up is a challenge.
Thank God for TiVo. As of this weekend, there was already 24 recorded segment of 4 hours each, which totals to about 100 hours of TV. With the limited amount of space on the TiVo, it looks though like all my other recordings are subject to deletion sometime this week.
Today I found myself with a Saturday and totally nothing to do. For the last couple of
weekends I’ve been re-watching my favorite DVDs because the upconverter on my HD-DVD player is so friggin awesome - much better than the ones on standard DVD players. So I sat down, got some snacks, and played my entire "Terminator" collection: the 3 movies plus the 5 episodes of the new TV series "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" which was already on my DVR and in HD.
I laughed at everyones hairdo while watching the first movie made in 1984 - did people really have hair that big back then? The 1991 sequel was a masterpiece, practically the perfect movie in terms of storyboarding, pacing, and script. The third movie made in 2003 (has it really been that long already?) was hated by the fans and is now relegated to "alternate timeline" status (i.e. it never really happened) but had the indie-movie feel what with Nick Stahl and Claire Danes in the lead roles. Lots more introspection. But then introspection was not really what you expected in a story with killer robots from the future.
It was already 5pm when I started "The Sarah Connor Chronicles". I could remember my trepidation while I was waiting for the first episode to premiere of Fox. "How could you make a Terminator show every week" I kept asking myself. Well, it turns out that you do it by focusing on the psychological aspect of the series, with splashes of very good action once every few episodes to keep things authentic.
The TV show is actually quite true to the series, with lots of easter eggs thrown in for the fans. The dynamic between main characters is faithfully maintained. I am a little ambivalent with the Cameron character played by Summer Glau though. I like the fact that she’s playing off the awkwardly learning Terminator in the 2nd movie played by the Governator, but sometimes it is too close to her awkwardly learning human character in the canned TV series "Firefly". Sometimes she is more nutjob character than a character supposedly made of nuts and bolts. But I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt, as no one knows exactly what type of machine her character is so anything is possible. I also like the pseudo-erotic tension between her robot character and the John Connor character played by Thomas Dekker. If you watch the show, you’ll know what I mean.
Because of the writer’s strike, there are only 3 episodes left before the season ends, so I’m already itching for the next season. But so far, it was 10 hours of Saturday well spent.
So I just read Leeann’s "laos" blog entry about "being thirty, etc". So it this just with girls, or with guys as well? Because for myself, I’m starting to lend credence to those people who have said 50 was the "prime of their lives". If you take care of yourself, the downsides rarely trump the upsides - at least for myself.
The last couple of days I have been introspecting, how I am now much more comfortable within my own skin - maybe partly because the person residing in my skin is a lot better than the person 5 years ago. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and no longer recognize the face looking back at me. However aerobic and strength training, proper diet, good sleep, a social support system does wonders and makes me look and feel not a hair over a quarter century. And the equipment has been functioning better than it has been in more than a decade!
Other aspects also doing well. Getting recognized at work, my own startup business doing really, really well and green card within the year.
I really don’t see how you couldn’t make yourself be better than you were 10 years ago in almost any respect - physically, emotionally and financially - if you try. Good genes will of course also help. Lots of relatives living to 90, and no baldness in the family.
Maybe women are different than men in this respect. I used to date this girl and when I told her I was actually 10 years older than what she thought, her pupils dilated and she breathed "reaaally?" That date ended really well.
Here’s a video of something that I just can’t stop watching on my DVR. It’s Keepon, the dancing robot.
Since I’ve started commenting on TV shows again, let me tell you about something thats been irking me for the last couple of weeks. Ever since the start of the 3rd season, "Supernatural", on of my favorite series on the CW, has changed the look of it’s "film stock". Yeah, I know everything is recorded digitally now - but what I meant is that used to be, "Supernatural" had that nitrate-processed film look. You know, where reds and yellows are subdued giving the TV series their distinctive bleak look. That look of bleakness fared well with the Winchester brothers’ travels through the highways of middle America as they dispatch monsters, demons, and all manner of riff-raff.
Now, in the third season, they seemed to have done away with that. Now, "Supernatural" film stock has that comic-ey, oversaturated look that is more in line with TV shows like "Veronica Mars". It’s a shame, really. As I had so much associated the look of the TV show with the content. Now, I half expect Clark Kent to pop into a scene with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padaleki (as "Smallville" shares the same oversaturated look). That beloved TV show that used to be its own unique universe is now just another part of the CW.
So, I just finished watching the last episode of "Heroes" for the season. So why did this current season seem less filling? Well there was the writer’s strike, but after 11 episodes of the shortened 2nd season, why do I find myself wandering just sliding from one episode into the next, without feeling anything was happening to the story?
So, to my surprise I discovered "Flight of Dragons" on YouTube! I’ve been wanting to watch this again since I was like, 12! Click here for the link. For those who have forgotten, here’s the intro:
From the first moment I got my Spyder, the first recommendation from
everyone was "gut your cats!" But hey, that manifold is like right next
to the motor! That’s mechanical
stuff! How am I supposed to deal with that? Well it turns out, that
with the proper tools and a lot of time on your hands, its not that
difficult.
Tools and consumables:
From my little
precat removal experience, I’ve found out that the following is
essential to an stress-free experience. I strongly suggest not starting
this little project without:
1) deep and regular hex sockets (esp 12mm and 14mm)
2) breaker bar
3) PB Blaster
4) socket extension
5) lots of daylight
The essential tools that are required are:
1) ramps
2) 14mm, 12mm and 10mm sockets and ratchet
3) 2 gaskets from MrT (see diagram below)
Optional but nice to have are:
1) new studs
2) new bolts
Procedure:
Here’s a diagram of the entire disassembly process. Please refer to this often:
For more diagrams, check here.
The
first step is to put your car on ramps. Remember to have someone always
spot you when using ramps. Also, keep your handbrake engaged for more
control:
Access
to the nuts that need to be removed from underneath the car is hindered
by the rear diaper. You will have to remove this with a socket wrench.
The screws are easily removed:
You can see the spots where screws need to be removed here:
It is also eases access if you remove the mid-diaper. The screws and poppets that need to be removed are highlighted:
From
underneath the car, take a gander at the "3 Amigos", they will be your
biggest challenge in this project. Refer back to the diagram to see
where this is in. It’s in Area 4 in the lower left hand side of the top
diagram, near the 2 gaskets:
Use
PB Blaster or similar product and drench the 3 Amigos. PB Blaster is
cheap, frustration is expensive. Let sit for a couple of minutes (or
hours, or days). Using a breaker bar, 12mm DEEP HEX SOCKET, and socket
extension, pry the nuts loose by rotating counter clockwise.
It
is essential that your socket is HEX shaped, as any other shape will
easily make the nut lose it’s thread due to the amount of force being
applied.
You will need a DEEP SOCKET, as the studs extend past
the end of the nut, making it difficult for your socket to have
sufficient grip.
You will need a socket extension, as the
location of the nut is very difficult to get at (maybe even impossible)
without a socket extension.
After
removing the 3 Amigos, you will need to remove 2 bolts that brace the
manifold to the frame. They are directly to the top of the 3 bolts you
just removed. Use PB Blaster to loosen. The left bolt is 14mm, the
right is 12mm. There may not be room to use the breaker bar.
You’re
done with removing the nuts and bolts from underneath the car! Yay! Now
to deal with the bolts on top. Pop the lid off the engine bay, and
remove the rear strut bars. Instructions for this can be found here:
http://spyderchat.com/forums/index.php?sho…c=44014&hl=
Now
to remove the top heat shield, which is held down by 4 bolts. Refer to
the 1st diagram, this will be Area 2, top left hand side. You will see
2 bolts. Use PB Blaster to loosen the bolts, and use a 12mm socket and
the breaker bar to remove the bolt by rotating counter clockwise:
Refer
to Area 6 on the diagram. This is where the last 2 bolts that hold down
the heat shield are. Use PB Blaster to loosen the bolts, then remove
with a 12 mm socket and ratchet. There will not be enough room for a
breaker bar, but the bolts will hopefully give before the bolts lose
thread or snap 
The
heat shield is now loose, but the 02 sensors need to be remove first.
Refer back to the diagram. This will be in Area 1. Left side:
Right side:
The 02 sensor harnesses can be disconnected easy, by pressing on the tab to unlock, then pull apart:
Now
to remove the 02 sensors. You will need an 02 sensor socket. This is
looks like an ordinary socket, with a slit on the side for the sensor
wire to pass through:
Soak
the 02 sensor in PB Blaster. Wait a couple of minutes. Place the 02
socket on the 02 sensor, passing the wire through the slit, like so:
You can now remove the 02 sensor using a ratchet, or a breaker bar if space allows:
Here’s what it looks like removed:
After taking off the other 02 sensor, you’re now free to take off the top heat shield:
You’ve
now exposed the manifold! See Area 3 in the diagram on top for
reference. There are 5 12mm bolts that connect the manifold to the
engine. Use PB Blaster to loosen the bolts. Use 12mm DEEP SOCKETS and
the breaker bar to remove the 5 bolts.
Pull out the manifold, and remove the heat shields from it. You’re halfway there! Now to re-assemble everything!
So here’s your engine bay. Lots of space without the manifold:
Install the gasket that mounts to the engine. Refer to Area 3 in the diagram. Easy:
Install
the 2 smaller gaskets that mount near the 3 amigos. Refer to Area 4 in
the diagram. You may have to shape the gaskets so that the fit around
the 2 openings snugly:
Mount the gutted manifold / header on the 5 studs:
Prep all areas that will be bolted down by spraying with WD40 or similar product, then install the nuts and tighten by hand:
Underneath the car, line up the bottom of the manifold/header, and put on the 3 amigos and tighten by hand:
Install the bolts that brace the manifold against the frame. Remember, 14mm on the left, 12mm on the right. Tighten by hand:
At this point the manifold should be aligned properly, with all nuts and bolts tightened by hand.
Use
the ratchet, socket extender and 12mm deep sockets to tighten the 3
nuts at the bottom of the manifold. Refer to Area 4 in the diagram:
Use
the ratchet and 12mm and 14mm sockets to tighten the bolts that hold
the manifold to the frame, directly above the nuts you just tightened:
Bottom part is done for now!
Back on top, tighten the 5 nuts at the top of the manifold by using the ratchet and 12mm sockets. See area 3 in the diagram:
Mount the top heat shield:
Install and tighten the top 2 bolts using a ratchet and 12mm sockets:
Install and tighten the 2 lower bolts using a ratchet and 12mm sockets:
Install and hand-tighten the 02 sensors:
Tighten the 02 sensors using the 02 sensor socket and the ratchet:
Reconnect the 02 sensor harnesses:
Finally,
reinstall the rear diapers, reinstall the rear strut braces, take the
car off the ramps, go for a drive, and sleep at peace for ever after
not worrying about pre cats anymore! 
Driving impressions
Well,
I never expected any benefit from decatting, but there actually was!
The engine seems to breathe more freely, and there is a slight increase
in bass from the exhaust. Not a bad thing at all!
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Dec | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
