To The Metal

Conservation WORKS!

Last time I filled up the VW was my first attempt at so called ‘hypermiling.’  Well it worked.  I went from 28mpg to 34mpg.  Filled up again today and got 34.5mpg.  Funny thing here is – I used the A/C quite a bit this time around.  Mind you, I only put 166 miles on the odometer – but I had good reason.

Scangauge 2

I’ve got a scan tool for my truck, but nothing for the car.  Since they’re different ODB versions, one wouldn’t work with the other – but in addition to that, the Scangauge 2 just has so much more to it.  For starters, it can give me up to the 2 second delay readings of things like speed, RPM, temperature, pressures… but it can also tell me my current MPG, average out my MPG for the day, as well as keep a record of my MPG over time – as well as calculate the cost per mile as well as how much I’ve actually saved by going for the ‘cheaper gas’ in Jersey.

Since it is also a fully functional ODB2 scan tool, I can also pull up error codes on the car’s computer as well as clear the pesky check engine light afterwards.  Right now I’ve got it mounted on my steering column which makes it fairly easy to monitor while keeping both eyes on the road.

I’m hoping that by using this tool – I can further improve my driving efficiency by identifying what works and more importantly – what doesn’t.

Still, the sticker on the car claimed 31MPG highway… so 34.5MPG on a 3 year old car?  Pretty cool.

Hoping to break 35MPG before the next fill up.  I gassed up next to a Prius today… as it silently pulled away I thought “Oh… I’ll show you!”

Worth a shot. 🙂

Top 10: Worst Male-Bashing Ads

I’ll agree that when it comes to advertising, unless a company is specifically trying to sell to men (well, except for Trojan condoms) – we’re generally portrayed as mindless idiots with the IQ of a donut.

Still, reading through the Top 10 at “AskMen.com” I could only think – what a bunch of pussies!

Yes, men are regularly bashed, but when you get right down to it – leave the BITCHING about it to women.  Sure it’s annoying, but as much as the stereotypical pounding men take in modern advertising annoys me, what annoys me more is when guys CRY about it.

I’ve complained in the past about that Trojan pig advertisement, and that’s about the extent you’ll hear me complain.  So go ahead, make fun of men while selling pizza, vacuums, ice cream, condoms, etc…  We can take care of ourselves.

See what happens the next time you complain to us that the spin cycle is broken.

The fact that this:

Senate Republicans Block Windfall Profits Tax on Big Oil Companies

is even a story illustrates exactly WHY gas prices are so high – in short, AMERICANS ARE BLITHERING IDIOTS.

Windfall profit tax. A punitive tax. The oil companies are making TOO MUCH MONEY!!!

So tax them. What will that do, teach them a lesson? Will the gas prices magically drop overnight? Will they see the error of their greedy ways and cut the price of their product so they stay within the imaginary margins set by a group of democratically elected idiots who haven’t been able to fix Social Security in the past 50 years?

No, most likely – they’ll either produce less fuel, or pass the cost of the taxes on to the consumer and dramatically INCREASE the price of gasoline.

That’s what our government is good at though, inventing a non-solution to satisfy the knee-jerk morons of the Digg generation while the real problem is allowed to fester.

We NEED more refineries.

We NEED more domestic and friendly sources of oil.

We NEED the dollar to be STRONG so LESS dollars buys MORE oil.

Fix those 3 problems, the price of gas will go down. Hell, fix ONE of those problems and the price will go down. You will not see any politician, elected or otherwise – even attempt to tackle the real problems with REAL solutions.

Environmentalists? Politicians? They don’t give a crap that it costs me $50 to fill up my VOLKSWAGEN. They have vehicles and causes funded by other people, they don’t feel the pinch the rest of us do, which is why the only fixes they propose will be wholly ineffective and likely will make the problem worse.

I’d love to vote myself a big fat payraise so the $50 it costs to fill the VW and the $100 that it costs to fill the pickup doesn’t effect me, but sadly I’m not a politician and my income depends on the economy which is currently shit – and nobody really has any desire to fix…because they’re all RICH.

Gander Mountain actually, I had planned on doing some target shooting this upcoming weekend.

Grabbed a box of rifle rounds.

Went to the cashier.

Dropped $10 in cash, took my receipt, and walked out the door.

Stopped at Rite-Aid to buy some more Sudafed to deal with my sinuses.

Handed over my license.

Signed a form.

Had a chat with the clerk about Government infringing our rights.

Paid for my Sudafed, took my receipt, and walked out the door.

HOW FUCKING BACKWARDS IS THAT?!

At the ripe old age of 66, Harrison Ford still manages to Wow a crowd – and with one of his defining characters.  I’ll admit, I was nervous about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull…  While I was never a die-hard fan of the series, I did enjoy the films enough to appreciate just how well everything clicked together for an Indiana Jones flick.

This time, we’re in the late 50’s and instead of Nazi’s we’ve got Russians.  We’ve also got a share of political jabs at the current state of things, but hey – Terrorists, Communists, what’s the difference?  Anyhow – this film takes a more sci-fi bend and gets away from the religious overtones of the first 3.  Smart move IMHO with current situation where pretty much all religious leaders are a bunch of flaming twats who can’t take a joke.

Marcus Brody and Henry Jones Sr make appearances as photographs on the desk of Jones, having died in the 20 year gap between the last two films.  I’m almost glad Connery wasn’t there – while the comradery between the elder Jones boys was the stuff of cinema lengend, it really didn’t have much place in this iteration.  In total, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull stands on its own merit.

Plenty of action here, and Ford pulls it off as only Henry Jones, Jr. could.  While some of it was CGI (and very well hidden CGI I must admit) a majority of it was Harrison jumping around like he was looking for the Lost Ark again.  Chase scenes abound as well, cars, military vehicles, motorcycles through libraries – you name it.  They adhere to the basic formula which has applied to all the Indiana Jones films, but then take it in a direction which was pretty damned risky.

They pulled it off tho.  Who knew George Lucas could touch a classic franchise and NOT frack it up like a Clinton electoral campaign?  I was pleasantly surprised – with all the cinematic franchises which are either finding a rebirth or their swan-song the past few years, I can say without hesitation that Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skulls – is at the top of the heap.

I’d rather have a president easily equated visually with monkeys well than…

Because really, as much as Bush has been compared to the Fascist dictator, nobody really carried on the legacy as well as our Pal Hillary.  I’m almost sorry to see her go, as now it’s going to be Obama V McCain, and frankly they’re both worthless in this election – but McCain doesn’t quite have the rockstar youth quality that Obama does.  In fact I expect to see the Republican Party eating crow in ’08 – and frankly those SOB’s deserve it.  They sure as hell haven’t done anything to earn my vote lately…  The “Bend over and take it” demographic sadly doesn’t cater to them as well either – as much as they’d like to lead by example.

I’ll expect to see Obama inaugurated in ’09 unless some other magical wildcard pops up before then.

When it comes to politics and music, I don’t really care as long as the music is good.  They can rip my ideas as much as possible, as long as it is clearly evident they possess the ability to write great songs and music – I’ll overlook their political viewpoints.

Two acts are currently back on the scene with new tracks – political in nature – but the songs are so damned infectious I don’t care.

First, Shinedown – Devour.  When they hit the radio a few years back I picked up their first album in a heartbeat and listened to it on repeat until the speakers bled.  There was such an energy and drive to the music that could not be denied.  Then they followed up with “Us & Them.”  I didn’t even bother buying the album, I listened to a copy for about 5 minutes and handed it right back.  Good to see Shinedown has a new fire lit under its ass, hopefully the rest of the album is as good as the single.

Next, Candlebox – Stand.  Their self titled album holds a special place in my personal collection – they defined their own sound and feeling that still makes the songs fresh today when replayed.  Their followups lacked much of the same feeling until now – the single Stand currently making rounds via Sirius and traditional radio has every bit the same passion as the original self-titled album had.  Again, I’m hoping its not a one-trick pony and that the rest of the album is as good as the single.

As far as bands that release utter crap to critical acclaim because they’ve managed to strictly adhere to the popular opinion of the day – Green Day, Rage Against The Machine, System Of A Down.  Sure, they might have some catchy tracks – but nothing I’d pay to listen to beyond the dial.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/04/mccains-day-marked-by-fal_n_105283.html

No way in hell I’d tarnish my integrity by voting for this jerk.

All I see from either side is Business As Usual.

Is it too late for a wild card candidate to beat them both?

Yesterday I commented that this would be another Clinton V Dole situation – I didn’t mean to insult Bob Dole.  At this point I’m convinced that if John McCain took a Viagra, he wouldn’t remember what to do next.

If Hillary was promised the presidency – the best thing I could say about McCain is that he is the pity candidate.  The only reason he’s even in the race is name recognition – any true Conservative who looks at his record and his behavior would vote 3rd party this year – even if it means a Democrat win.

Obviously – the powers that be still don’t ‘get it.’

It’s America, Stupid.

In an earlier post today I explained a dream I had… After talking with my folks tonight, the imagery and entire experience has become… Trippy.

My grandfather was born in Argentina… So it’s likely he knew that song by heart.

He used to make his own wine, and to his dismay – it apparently was regularly compared to “”Manischewitz” wine. So it’s no wonder that after comparing that ‘other’ wine to ‘ass’… he might break out into that song.

Last but not least, the song. My father found it for me online – even I couldn’t find it – Cielito Lindo or “beautiful bit of heaven.”

Here’s a video of it from YouTube…

I’ve got his name, but until last night, we’ve never met.

Made the mistake last night of taking my Smacker supplement at around 8pm, that had me pretty much rolling around in bed until at least 3am, when I finally fell asleep and had a very VERY odd dream.

I’m at a backyard picnic/barbeque in Queens, NY.  I think it’s at my Grandmother’s house in Corona.  At my table is my mother, and I think my Grandfather – but he’s in his 30’s, wearing a button down shirt…  Definitely had a sense of family at my table.

Behind our table was an old Jewish couple + a few extras, all raving about Manischewitz wine.  I turn around, look at the old guy, and say “Manischewitz tastes like tuccus!”  My table starts laughing, and then the Jewish table sings a quick song, not sure what they said – I can’t remember.

So my table retaliates in kind, and starts to sing this old Italian/Spanish song that starts out “Ayyyy ya yaya, ay tino furia” or something like that.  We all sing the first verse, but then everyone except for my Grandfather forgets the rest of the song.  He continues on, perhaps with some modifications of his own, as the rest of us fall over laughing.

I’m usually pretty good at analyzing my dreams, but this one was a whopper.  Not only did someone who I am SURE is my Grandfather on my mother’s side show up in the dream – there’s the song playing that I know, but I can’t find it anywhere online.  Jeff Dunham used it as a basis for his Jose Jalapeno song, but beyond that – I have no idea.  I’m pretty sure it’s shown up in the Sopranos too, but who knows.

Anyone have a suggestion?