accessories

I love to accessorize my cars. It's a weakness that I have had for the longest time. I dunno when it started - maybe when I had my first car ('75 Pontiac Grand Prix), that came fully loaded with every imaginable accessory available at that time (and even some that didn't, but was retrofitted anyway). If any of you saw my current car ('99 Nissan Altima), you would agree with my affinity with accessories. Although I don't go so far as to pour thousands of $$$ to convert my cars into outright racers (pimp my ride, anyone?), I do indulge in a bit of accessorizing so as to personalize them (to a limit, of course).

Why am I sharing this? I have been bitten by the accessorizing bug again, since we recently purchased a new '05 Nissan Murano. Don't get me wrong, it already has come with plenty of accessories at the point of sale, so there's not much I want to do. But in flipping through the accessories catalog, I saw something that we didn't have - a rear bumper protector:








I know, it's not much - but when unloading and/or loading things from the rear, I just wanted to minimize the chance of creating premature scratches at that area (for some odd reason, the protector did not come standard like in other SUVs). I called a dealer for a price quote, and they gave me a price of about $40. okay...so I noted that, and scoured the web for a better price. Lo and behold, when I went to nissan.autowebaccessories.com, I saw that they offered it for about $30 - that's the price with shipping/handling, and no tax! Needless to say, I ordered it online. It arrived yesterday, and installed without any issues (love it when that happens). So it begins...

spoiled

darn it...I have become spoiled. I knew this was gonna happen.

Today I had the good fortune to drive the new Murano to work. I admit, I succumbed to the typical paranoid new-car owner behavior...meaning that when I got to my parking lot at work, I made sure I parked all the way in the back away from everyone else (for fear of door dings or scratches). I also parked in the back of the parking lot when I went to the gym after work. Man, it is such a sweet ride - the feeling of sitting up high above the traffic really makes a huge difference. I may have to retract all those nasty comments I have made about other SUV drivers in the past - all except for those drivers who feel that they own the road because they drive a tank. Our new SUV doesn't quite qualify for that distinction - since it is a midsize and not a Hummer or anything (still have my opinions on those cars, but I digress). Tomorrow I officially hand over the keys to Duksim and return to my car. Over dinner tonight, I warned Duksim that she will get spoiled driving the new car. After experiencing it in real-world driving today, I have already become spoiled - and internally am saddened to return to my car.

But then again, I look back and remember when I first bought my car 6 or so years ago, and that feeling of driving a new car was evident even back then. The new car smell, the new interior, just the general feeling of newness. Perhaps what I am experiencing is what is called "new-car euphoria". I dunno, but the main difference here is that I didn't cut short the feeling this time around by running over a skunk like I did back then with my car...and that memory is still vivid in my mind as well...unfortunately...

pictures of the NEW CAR!!!

As promised, here are some shots of the NEW CAR!!! from our parking lot:










front









back










proud owner (I forgot to take picture of myself - the other proud owner...but trust me, I'm here too)











interior shot (plenty of aluminum trim - very nice selling point!)










sticker detailing CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) - standard on this (and all) Murano trim levels











rear (with hatch open) - note standard dual chrome-finished exhaust outlets...











we transferred over things from Duksim's old car to the NEW CAR!!! - and of course we did not forget the Tweety danglers, positioned on top corners of the front windshield...












...and the Tweety from her rear view mirror somehow migrated over here as well.

NEW CAR!!!

Today we took the bold step forward and purchased our new car - platinum 2005 Nissan Murano SL AWD from the Woodfield Nissan dealership. Pictures will follow in a separate blog (since it is now getting dark outside and I won't be able to capture the fullness of it in the dim outdoor lighting)...

PlayStation 3

The following is an excerpt from GameSpot.com, detailing out specs for upcoming PlayStation 3 due out Spring 2006. Rather impressive, I have to say...

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...Sony confirmed the PlayStation 3 will use Blu-ray discs as its media format. The discs can hold up to six times as much data as current-generation DVDs. It will also support CR-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats. Sony also confirmed that the machine will be backward compatible all the way to the original PlayStation. It will also have slots for Memory Stick Duo, an SD slot, and a compact flash memory slot. It will also sport a slot for a detachable 2.5-inch HDD, somewhat similar to the Xbox 360's. Sony did not mention if the drive would be standard.

Sony also laid out the technical specs of the device. The PlayStation 3 will feature the much-vaunted Cell processor, which will run at 3.2GHz, giving the whole system 2 teraflops of overall performance. It will sport 256MB XDR main RAM at 3.2GHz, and it will have 256MB of GDDR VRAM at 700MHz.

Sony also unveiled the PS3's graphics chip, the RSX "Reality Synthesizer," which is based on Nvidia technology. The GPU will be capable of 128bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution--some of the highest HD resolution around. The RSX also has 512MB of graphics render memory and is capable of 100 billion shader operations and 51 billion dot products per second. It also has more than 300 million transistors, larger than any processor commercially available today. It will be manufactured using the 90nm process, with eight layers of metal. The RSX is more powerful than two GeForce 6800 Ultra video cards, which would cost roughly $1,000 total if purchased today.

The PlayStation 3 will also sport some hefty multimedia features, such as video chat, Internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video. Speaking of video, Sony Computer Entertainment's chief technical officer Masa Chatani was on hand to show off the PS3's panoramic video functions. Since the console has two HD outputs, it is can be hooked up to two side-by-side HDTVs to projecting video in a 32:9 extra-widescreen format (think Cinemascope in your living room). Like a gigantic version of the Nintendo DS, the dual digital outputs also allow for an extended game display, with the action on one screen and either game information or video chat on the second.

Out of the box, the PS3 will have the capability to support seven Bluetooth controllers, which can be used for nearly 24 hours before they require charging. Later, pictures of the controllers themselves were released, showing their almost boomerang-like shape. It will also have six USB slots for peripherals: four up front and two in the back. As rumored, it will also have Wi-Fi connectivity to the PSP, which can be used as a remote screen and/or controller.

Sony also emphasized that the PlayStation 3 would have similar online connectivity and services as the next generation of Xbox Live. Calling it "an always on, always connected device," Chatani said the PS3 would be constantly in touch with a "PlayStation World" network "fundamentally based on a on community, communication commerce, and content." He said that subscribers could "exchange unique characters and items through the network," much like Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace.

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I personally am just admiring from a distance, since I have no plans to purchase this product. I barely have time and/or energy to play with my PS2 - so a PS3 would be a colossal waste of money for me. Jae, on the other hand, may perhaps entertain the idea - though having a PS2, GameCube, PSP, and countless PCs would kinda hinder the acquisition process somewhat (I think). Ah well, there's always the XBOX 360 and the Nintendo Revolution to consider as well...so many toys, so little time...

golf escapade

Today me and 3 other guys (Jae, Juan and Rob) met up for a full day of golf. It was gonna be a daunting task, playing 18 holes - since we had a rather late tee time at 4:30 pm. Ah well, the things people do to save a few bucks.

Well, all I can say about my game is that there is none...absolutely non-existent. Those par indicators for each hole was a joke. I suppose if I played more consistently and/or devoted more time to improve my swing, I might actually be decent. This was not to be, as I found myself consistently whiffing my swings, hitting grounders or severely hooking/slicing my drives. One time I almost decapitated Jae with my ball as I accidentally clipped it with the front end of my 5-wood. Juan yelled "ball" at the last minute and Jae ducked out of the way, though he was already maybe a foot from where the ball buzzed his head at his original position. Needless to say I switched to a different club afterwards...

Not having a driver of my own did not help matters either (it broke during a previous outing) - though Jae was gracious enough to lend me one of his. Still though, there is nothing like having one of my own. Seeing Jae's new driver had me dreaming of my future purchase...perhaps it can be an early Christmas present...we'll see.

Eventually we had to call it quits after 13 holes - it simply got way too dark to proceed any further. Overall, good times were had by all - though it was way too humid and sunny/hot. Good thing for sunscreen and the occasional watering hole to refuel after hours of sweating it out on the links. Definitely looking forward to the next outing - whenever it may be. Hopefully I will have obtained my new driver by then...

sticker shock aftermath

Well, this is my first day of work after my trip to Minnesota. I had to drive around a bit, and decided to take care of my license plate sticker (since it was still in my car and I had not had a chance to put it on my plate).

I guess an explanation is in order at this point. I have these plastic covers on both of my license plates (to keep the grime out). They are held in place with these screws that require an allen wrench - but a special allen wrench that is hollowed out, since the screws themselves have a metal piece sticking out the center (kinda like a security measure). Well, unfortunately I lost that allen wrench, so I had to go to the auto store to buy another one.

I went to Murray's and bought another special allen wrench. Went to my car, and started to unscrew the screws to loosen the cover to gain access to the sticker area. Unfortunately, the screws wouldn't come off! After much struggling, I got the right one out. Turns out, the culprit was RUST!!! Not the screw, but the retaining clip inside. Unbelievable. So I would need to replace the retaining clips before I could screw them back on. Great! Well, I was able to work the cover loose to put the new sticker on, so that was accomplished. But Murray's didn't have the retaining clips I was looking for. So off I went to a Nissan Dealership, and ended up at Arlington Nissan in Buffalo Grove. The person at the service desk had the clips in stock, and gave me a couple free of charge (good stuff!)

Unfortunately keep in mind that I was only able to work the right screw out on my license plate - the left one is still jammed in there - too rusted to move. Fortunately, I was able to swing the plate out of the way, remove the rusted right retaining clip and replace it with the new one. Swung the plate back down, and was able to screw it back in.

Jeez, what an ordeal. My only hope is that I will never have to remove my rear license plate. Unless I can somehow work in some WD-40 on that left retaining clip, that plate ain't never coming out...hmm, that's a pretty good security measure in and of itself...

sticker shock

So about a week or so ago, Duksim tells me she noticed that my license plate sticker expired in May. I looked at her and just blinked repeatedly before asking her to repeat herself. So she did, and presented me with my registration paper, which clearly showed 05/05 as the expiration date. So for a couple of months, I was driving around with expired plates. Great! So last Saturday I went to the DMV in Niles to get my new sticker. The line inside seemed daunting, but wasn't altogether slow (surprisingly). Maybe because it was close to closing time, and they were trying to get everyone out the door. What's more, I ended up in a separate waiting area to get my sticker, and it only took me about 20 minutes of wait time. Not bad! Unfortunately when they called my number and I got to the counter, they ended up charging me the sticker price, but also a late fee. Turns out that according to Duksim, they give you some kinda grace period of 30 days after the expiration date to get the new sticker without a late fee - but I missed the cut by a few days! ARGH!!! So grudgingly I forked over the combined grand total of 95 bucks (or something like that). Man, what the heck...well, looking at the bright side of this event - at least it's cheaper than getting pulled over for expired plates, I guess...

war-torn veteran

This is absolutely incredible...I just got this in my mail at work. Apparently, I've become a war-time veteran! I guess somehow in a past life I've enlisted and fought in some war somewhere - and now I qualify for benefits. Duksim thinks there's something I'm not telling her - I'd like to think there's something I'm not telling myself since I have no recollection of ever being in a war! I dunno, maybe a cannonball smashed into my helmet. If that's the case, it would explain a lot of things...

science experiment

These are pictures of the coffeepot we have at work that has not been cleaned out in a few months already. We've been meaning to clean it out, but one day passes, then another - and lo and behold, look at what happens to what used to be perfectly good Starbucks coffee. I dunno if we're ever going to clean this out, but I just had to bring the digital camera and catch the science experiment in the making. Oddly enough, it still smells like coffee - so no rank stench is fouling the air to remind us of its presence.

If you guys have ever watched the movie "Super Size Me", there is an extra bonus clip that these pictures will remind you of. Ugh, good thing I ate dinner already...

St. Louis 4th of July vacation

Hmm, I posted these pictures up using blogspot's new image upload utility. Not bad - have to say that it is much easier to use than hello.

Finally got some pictures from the other families, so here they are. We met up with another family in Chicago and left for St. Louis early Saturday afternoon via rental Chrysler Town & Country. Not a bad car (surprisingly) - but not good enough to sway my opinions on American cars. But I digress. I have said before, and I will say again - I do not like road trips. Never mind the fact that I brought my laptop for movie watching, and never mind the fact that I did not drive the entire trip (the father of the other family was the official chauffeur) - I still do not like road trips...especially 5 hour road trips. My tolerance level is pretty low on these things, I guess.

The vacation was pretty eventful - maybe because we tried to pack in a lot of things in a short period of time. We attended Duksim's sister's church service on Sunday. The overall feel reminded me of Bethel - although they gave me a wireless headset for live translation during the service (not bad!)

We explored a cave that used to be the hideout of Jesse James. Very interesting to see all the stalagtites and stalagmites - and best of all - natural air-conditioning (60 degrees). Aaaahhh...

We went to check out the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis. It was ok, though it was pretty anticlimactic - although I don't know how much I really expected from an arch, but still. We emerged from the arch to a drenching downpour that followed us all the way back to the minivan. Just our luck...

We visited a VERY NICE lakefront house of Duksim's sister's churchmember family. I have to say, the property value in St. Louis is pretty low - in comparison to Chicago standards. Duksim's sister's house is equivalent to a house in Glenview/Northbrook. But this lakefront house was literally a mansion. Pretty nice! Also the owner had a speedboat, and took us out for a spin - it was pretty exhilirating when the boat gathered a full head of steam in the wide open areas. They had a norebang session later that evening (large projection tv, disco lights, etc) that went wayyyy longer than it should have - I dunno, Koreans are crazy like that, I guess. Duksim and I didn't join in, but acted as spectators.

We stopped by a local fireworks tent and purchased two shopping bags full of roman candles, mortar shells, and bottle rockets to set off. Mind you, this was not my idea - but everyone else was all gung-ho about it. Have to say one thing - money talks when it comes to fireworks...you literally get more bang for more bucks - and some of those gave off a pretty colorful and loud bang! One other note - when sticking rockets in the ground to light the fuse, make sure there is enough slack for the rocket to take off into the sky. The explosions are meant for the sky, not the ground - trust me on this! No casualties to report - but jeez, some pretty close calls.

All in all, a pretty nice trip. One last note - I cannot say enough about dvd entertainment in cars - they are a real lifesaver. If I didn't bring my laptop, I shudder to think what might have been, especially on 5 hour road trips like this.

But it was enough to keep me entertained, so everyone was happy.