Toyama House

How I've missed you Toyota....

2011-12-26T22:45:00.003-10:00

I grew up thinking Toyota was the best bang for your buck. Cars like the Corolla (AE86), MR2 and Supra were great deals for what you got. Fun to drive for the working man...without the muscle car fuel economy.

However, the Corolla quickly lost it's rear drive (and soul), the Supra died and the MR2 turned into the MR-S...and died. By now, I had believed Toyota had cut off it's own balls and gave it to Korea. Basically, if you wanted a rear drive sports car that cost less than $30k was to buy the Hyundai Genesis or a Ford Mustang (V6)....(I might be over generalizing so feel free to bash be in comment form).

But with the return of a Toyota Family Member in control of the company, I feel like the soul is returning and this is the proof. The Scion FR-S (pictured) and Subaru BRZ look great and sounds like it drives great, with some tuning differences between the two companies.

The one thing that bothers me: I feel like Subaru did most of the work and Toyota gets the credit. Toyota's contribution is the design and it's direct injection technology...and Subaru got the rest of the car. I kinda hope Subaru gets more of the sales.

At least Scion has the right tag line: "Bringing the sport back to the car."

Turning a new...burger

2011-12-26T22:16:00.002-10:00

I might be me, but it seems like fast food places are all trying to redo their food somehow. Wendy's re-did their burgers with "Dave's Hot n Juicy" and now Jack-in-the-Box is improving their burgers by "seasoning it while it cooks". I'm just disappointed. Maybe it's because I don't eat fast food much any more but when I hear that they're re-doing a classic, I want a REAL improvement. With the Hot n Juicy, I couldn't tell the difference between the old and new. Now with this Jack-in-the-Box thing...it's basically the same. It might have some pepper on it or something but it's really not anything to rush out there and buy. If I have to think hard to notice a difference...there isn't one. In reality, it's still fast food and not worth spending $10 for a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger (large) with Curly Fries when I can get a plate lunch for about the same price...and it might even be better for my cholesterol.

Looks like McDonald's still win...Only place (in Hawaii) with a Dollar Menu.

Welcome back to the world!

2011-07-25T23:55:00.005-10:00

I guess it has been a while since I wrote a blog, but that's not what the title means. The little amounts I know about cars almost entirely comes from the internet...and from what the internet tells me, Dodge (actually Chrysler) was known for producing very high quality cars, post-WWII. I'm sure there are a few iconic models that everyone can recall (because they're trying to bring their glory days back).

This brings me to the new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8...I must say........sexy. (YES~, to anyone who knows me personally, I've developed a nice soft spot for Chrysler)

BUT JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURE! In my brain, that car could be quieter than a Nissan Leaf and I would argue to my death that it's a powerful car by appearance alone; and with a new 6.4L HEMI V8 with 470HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, it doesn't just sound powerful....it sounds earthquake starting powerful. Chrysler has (in my history) always made gas devouring, powerful cars and trucks so hearing this isn't nearly as surprising to me as the tech that exists in this thing.

It has a nice 8.4" touch screen that's got all the comfort controls for the climate control, nav system, Bluetooth hands free calling and an ear-bleeding 900-watt, 19-SPEAKER Harman Kardon sound system....and if that doesn't give you a geek stiff, it also displays a bunch of unnecessary and distracting performance information including an accelerometer, acceleration timer, transmission and oil temperatures, oil pressure and battery voltage.

But wait....there's more~! Taking the vehicle data (such as vehicle speed, steering angle, yaw, throttle and brake inputs) the car makes adjustments to it's new Bilstein adaptive dampers to adjust compression and rebound rates to provide an ideal ride....and then you hit the sport button. In addition to adjusting the shift points and calibration, it also firms up the suspension for throwing that car into corners.

Verdict...Amazing!~ but I'd still wait a few years for Chrysler to step away from that SOHC and 5-speed transmission that might give this thing more than 13 city/23 highway MPGs...

Information taken from Automobile Magazine

I need that adjusted....

2011-04-04T01:05:00.003-10:00

How rare that I write about a film, but this one is interesting. Anyone who has seen this film SHOULD recognize the obvious Christian references, however this film asks a very critical question: do people have free will or only the appearance of free will?

I as a Buddhist, I recognize this as criticizing religions like Christianity. My understanding of Buddhism is that it teaches your life is yours and nothing is more important. The actions you make are yours...the mistakes you make are yours... I don't think I could except that the joys and sufferings of my life were given to me by God. I honestly believe that all people suffer in some way, but if God is making people suffer...why? What's the point? If he could make a wonderful world where all people are happy and at peace, why wouldn't he? The director said in The Christian Post, "The intention of this film is to raise questions," and I guess he wins.

The end of the film mentions that we're supposed to be in charge of our own lives, that free will is something to fight for. To me, this feels like it goes against Christian-like religions, because they usually speak of an all knowing God that controls everything that happens in the world. Instead of asking questions, it feels like my religion has been vindicated. But speaking with my friends, I get the feeling that they find the movie pro-Christian film. Maybe, we're all looking at what we can relate to. Wikipedia says, "...many Christians have seen this movie as an allegory to Christianity..."

As a non-Christian, I guess you should just see it for yourself.

Ford...the new awesome!

2010-12-17T22:54:00.002-10:00

So I have been really impressed by Ford for the past 8 years now...ever since the Focus came to America. I thought, "Ford is finally starting to think..." In addition to my love of the new Mustang, I found a new 2011 Ford that I've also come to love...The new Explorer.

That's right! Look at that picture! How can you go wrong with a sexy SUV like that! It's almost luxury...ish. The one thing I'm thankful for in this economy is that the lack of money has caused American auto makers to start thinking about what people want in a car.

And now some boring history....(I'll let you know when you can come back in.)

What made Toyota so awesome for me is that they were some cheap car company from Japan that had a crazy idea of making great cars that sold for less than the other great cars. Toyota has then jumped to #1...and into a gutter. Because now (in my opinion) they make cars that are expensive...but feel cheap. Today, Hyundai has become the new Toyota. They're offering cars with great awesome features but without the price tag. As a result...they were gaining market share while Toyota fell...

(Now back to Ford...and you can pay attention again)

Like Toyota back-in-the-day, Ford is making awesome cars without the evidential price tag. They drive great, look great, have awesome technology and cheaper! A few months ago, I wrote about the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and thought, "OMG! A great driving Jeep!" That has an MSRP of $30k. This has an MSRP of $28k. And its got the same size engine, and better gas milage...there is one real downside to the Explorer...it has kinda become a crossover....and its FWD...

BUT MAN, DOES IT LOOK GOOD! :P

Get Fit!

2010-11-14T22:03:00.002-10:00

On a completely different thought....I thought to be fit was to be muscular...but I think that's wrong.

Anyway, the Honda Fit. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you the Honda Fit is a great car. I've been on the internet... Just search great cars and the Fit comes around the top. But I couldn't help but wonder why? I drove the Nissan Versa, roomier and faster than I thought but you know it's cheap. I also drove the Toyota Yaris, which is fine...just a smaller Corolla. How much better could the Fit be?

Well, it is a world different...First off, this may sound geeky, but I feel like I'm driving a space ship in that car. The gauges look cool and the interior quality just seems so much better than the other two. The most important thing is the way it drives. It really doesn't feel cheap. It's very controlled and easy to drive....AND it's so much fun!

I drive a Honda Civic. One thing I noticed about a new Civic compared to my 1999 version is that the new one is way more comfortable. For some, that's a better thing but I think it loses it's fun in the process. Not the fit! This thing drives great...so much so that I actually smiled as I was driving this thing around town. It's so easy to drive, steering is very responsive and easy to handle and moving forward was just as quick. Yet, it feels new. It's comfortable and smooth when you want it to be. This is great.

Honda! Keep up the great work!

"Hao" is the 2011 Cherokee?

2010-11-10T21:51:00.004-10:00

Hahaha, yeah...I guess it is a bit racist....

But enough cheese....This car is Awesome!!!!! It is a whole world different from the previous models. This feels very....German....like a Mercedes? Hmm, I guess that Daimler partnership did pay off.....

I'm really serious about this though....This is a great SUV. The model I drove...from a rent-a-car, so it's gotta be towards the bottom of the options list...was pretty nice. Almost everything was powered/automatic. Automatic windows, power seats, leather wrapped bits, smart key with push button start, very soft and comfortable all around. One of the coolest bits, the Audio controls were on a touch screen LCD. And like most Chryslers, the speakers were pretty good.

The drive was another hugely impressive thing. It was such a smooth ride. Turning was so tight and controlled. For a V6, it had lots of balls when you put the hammer down. It was almost....luxury feeling......but with a $30k price tag? That's the same price as a basic 4Runner V6.......

Now here's the bit that's got me feeling a little sad....IF YOU COULD BUILD THIS, WHY'D YOU WANT TILL NOW AND WAIST MY TIME WITH ALL THAT OTHER CRAP YOU GUYS BUILT.....I even read that the new 2011 Wrangler is a really good SUV. I've driven those before, and even did a review in the past, and I believe I said something like they haven't changed a thing in 50 years.....because it felt like a car that was that old. Now that Chrysler is putting out cars that are worth a damn, I wonder if it's too late. Ford is doing GREAT as they have been for the past 5 years or so and GMC has really turned themselves around...but Chrysler is still losing lots of money....Please don't die Chrysler!!!! I need your cars to finally drive as great as it looks!!!!!!

My Soul has been K.I.A.

2010-11-07T18:09:00.003-10:00

That's right...I'm talking about the Kia Soul. (I'm not that Romantic...for those who may have thought this title wasn't about a car...)

I had the chance to drive this thing around and I EXTREMELY hate to admit...I really like it. I think it has a young/funky look to it and driving it feels very controlled. It was so easy to drive and if you wanted to be rough with it, it didn't let down. The steering was firm and the acceleration was predictable...it reminds me of my civic. And when you put your foot down, it wasn't exactly sluggish. Not what I was expecting from a Kia...

But these are things that makes a modern car average. Almost every new car is pretty good....maybe not a base cobalt but you get what I'm saying. The thing that makes me want to BUY one of these cars is the fact that it has filled a gap in my heart, left by Toyota. The first gen xB to be specific.

The 1st gen Scion xB/ Toyota bB was a great car. Easy to drive, fuel efficient and lots of room for anything. It really was a great city car. Then tragedy struck when Scion decided to release their own version of the xB...(Not Toyota based). I thought it looked cool...but that's about it. The electric steering felt disconnected some how. The car was much bigger too, harder to drive and had a bigger engine...meaning less fuel efficiency. The xB was no longer the fun compact box wagon that I loved....it got fat and became bitchy....hahaha (I can say this because I'm still single....or maybe it's the other way around :P)

So if I'm looking for an cool looking, fun to drive, economic box wagon...there's not much... Nissan then released their Cube in America, which can be cool looking....but unless you add the extra bits (front lip, rims, spoiler, etc.) it doesn't really look all that cool....dare I say ugly. SUDDENLY, Kia introduces the Soul, with hamsters jamming to cool music in a box wagon with a nice sound system.....I thought...omg, Korean is becoming cool.....WHAT'S THE WORLD COMING TO!~

My J-pan pride is SCREAMING as I have to say...The Kia Soul is an awesome car!!! Ouch!!!....my soul died a little more....

Please refer back to blog "Korean Bastards pt. 2" in March 2009 for my past criticism on Korean cars....

Make like a tree and Leaf!~ hahaha

2010-08-24T21:07:00.002-10:00

As a fan of cars...I am interested in the way the automotive industry is trying to move.........anywhere. Mainly in the direction of alternative fuels. I guess Electricity is an alternative fuel.

Next year, Nissan and GM will be introducing the Leaf and Volt into the mass market. The Leaf is 100% electric and can travel about 100 miles. The Volt is another, more hybrid-ish option. You can travel 40 miles on all electric but can go up to 350 with assistance of a gas engine. Neither is new to the world, but this is the first (that I'm aware of) mass release of a plug-in electric vehicle.

I love the idea of an electric vehicle, however I can really say this isn't for me. (Shocking for people who know me. "Wayde...NOT wanting a car?") Well, the electric car is cool, and I would be on this if I lived in a house where I could charge my car. I live in a town-house now, and mainly lived in apartments and condos.

Then, I have to say....what's wrong with gas? Well for most, it's pollution and sustainability. Here in Hawaii, most of our electricity comes from fossil fuels....but we're working on it. We also have one of the highest electricity rates in the nation. Even with this, the Leaf takes 22.1 kilowatt hours to charge from 0-100 (100 miles). The Oahu residential electric rates are 22.51 average cents per kilowatt hour (on the low end) and the Big Island is at 32.69 cents per kilowatt hour. I travel about 350 miles per week. It would cost me about $17.41 per week to drive a Volt on Oahu. This is compared to my $35 I spend to fill my Honda Civic.

The problem I see with the Leaf is the limited 100 miles per charge. 100 miles depends on your driving conditions. If, for some reason, I decide to take a trip to the other side of the Island....like I did a couple of days ago....I would be screwed. The Volt fixes this problem. I could go only on Battery, then if I need to go farther, I can depend on a hybrid mode. But then, there's the life of the battery....Batteries lose their charge potential as they age.

If you switch out batteries as the car ages, what do you do with old batteries? Is this environmental to have all these batteries? In conclusion, I vote Fuel Cell!~ haha

Still has electric drive and can simply fill the fuel tank if I run out of juice (instead of waiting to charge) and less net carbon emissions than plug-ins (in my opinion).

Credits:

Please listen to this NPR article comparing both the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129180183

Hawaii Electric rates were collected from the HECO website.

http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.508576f78baa14340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=692e5e658e0fc010VgnVCM1000008119fea9RCRD&vgnextchannel=10629349798b4110VgnVCM1000005c011bacRCRD&vgnextfmt=defau&vgnextrefresh=1&level=0&ct=article

Nissan Leaf charge amount came from the Hamiltonian Function blog (I think that's what the blog is called).

http://hamiltonianfunction.blogspot.com/2010/02/nissan-leaf.html

The Love/Hate TSX

2010-08-16T22:14:00.003-10:00

I shall start by saying, I drive a Honda Civic. I love my CIvic. I've owned it for 12 years now and it's a great car from the time I got it. I must say....never really cared for that "Ricer" image that they give, but I was swayed by how much I liked to drive it. I guess it's the same way I feel about BMWs...which probably means I will end up owning one some day......Anyway......

The last TSX gave me mixed feelings. I loved the way it looked and drove. It was like my Civic, with luxury options....and 4 doors. But I felt weird about it, because it is a luxury(ish) car. Should it feel sporty? The problem is that it really felt like an Accord. Even though I drove it softly, it didn't feel soft. It's shifts felt sharp and the revs would try to stay high...I thought, this would be more comfortable if I had the 6 speed manual.....which is already not very luxury. Therefore, I really had to look at it from my Japanese perspective. It was a Honda Euro Accord. I remember watching Japanese racing videos of guys testing the Euro Accord R around the track and thought, "Wow, how quick for a large 4 door sedan." But then, I can't help but think of that luxury element in the Acura version. And then I can't help but think of the Front Drive element. For a car that sporty, it could have rear wheel drive...but then I thought, Audi A4's are front drive and tons of g***s and t@@@s buy those things. I'm censoring this out for my friend who likes Audi......

The NEW TSX has solved part of my problem. They really focused on the Luxury. Driving this made me feel like I was in a luxury car. The 4 cylinder made me think, I'm getting good value for the money, because it's fuel efficient but not sluggish and hard to drive. The seats were very comfortable, there's much more room, a great sound system and the little things like your side mirror tilts down when you reverse (if you select it on).

The one feature that I absolutely love....the paddle shifters. I usually hate these things, because if you want to down shift in...lets say an IS250....I need to shift the car into manual mode and then click the shifter down to the gear I want or push the paddles down to the gear I want. This is very distracting to me. First, I have to look at what gear I'm in after shifting into manual mode (so I don't over downshift). I felt like, in that time I shifted to Manual and figured out how many gears I had to shift, my reason for shifting has been lost by my need to press the break. (I'm sure if I owned the car, I would have adapted to it, but my point stands). In the TSX, you don't have to shift into a manual mode to shift the paddle shifters. If you're driving down the road start coming down a steep hill, you can just click on your shifter to shift you down a gear or two or three. To get back into auto, just shift back up. Though, some might complain that as a result, you'll never have a real manual mode....but neither does an IS250. You can easily drive your car in Manual 6th gear the entire time, and your car will still shift gears like normal drive.....

The sport option is also kinda fun where it makes the shifting aggressive...though this is where the negative comes in. Though the car feels much better.....it's bigger and heavier. The 4 banger doesn't really pull it's weight anymore. Though the TSX now comes in a V6 option, you sorta lose the Honda essence of fuel economy. Though, for a V6, that engine is still very fuel efficient, and has lots of balls.....Sounds good too.

Overall, I say its a good buy. Looking at the market, you can't really find many small, luxury 4 door that has that kind of luxury and that kind of fuel efficiency. I just wish they didn't go with that ugly chrome thing in the front......

LFA....wow (good and bad)

2010-07-18T11:03:00.004-10:00

Let me get this in writing right away....I am a fan of Toyota. Lexus is putting out some great cars but this car gives me mixed feelings. The technology in this car is amazing. The engine revs up to 9000 RPMs, putting out 552 hp. This engine sounds like an F1 car. It's got an all LCD gauge, because a normal Tachometer can't keep up with how fast the engine revs. Similarly, with the Nissan GT-R, they removed that moving/tracking headlights because the headlights could not keep up with how fast the car can turn.

This is my problem.....the price. If you want one, the price tag is $400,000. For one of those, I could buy a new Porsche 911 Turbo, Audi R8 AND the Nissan GT-R. Is the LF-A good as all three of those cars combined? Going back to the GT-R...this car is about $90,000. Motor Trend did a drag race between these two cars and found the LF-A was only 0.1 sec faster in a quarter-mile. Is 0.1 sec worth an additional $310,000?

I'm sure the car is a great one, and Lexus tells me I can't even buy the car anyway (lease only). See, I think my problem is where I'm relating these two cars. I remember watching Japanese videos of people comparing the Nissan Skyline GT-R and the Toyota Supra Twin-Turbo. These cars are fast, and were very close in terms of performance. When they both died, I was sad...Then I heard Nissan was bring it back (AND bring it to America) I was sooooo excited. Then rumors from Toyota came out about a new Supra.......

The GT-R made it's comeback......the Supra came back as a $400,000 Lexus.......

The Surprising Challenger

2010-07-18T10:35:00.003-10:00

I decided to take a trip to my home town for the 4th of July weekend this year, something fun to see my parents and childhood friends. When I arrived to pick up my rent-a-car, they gave me a New 2010 Challenger SE (I doubt a rent-a-car would ever buy SRT8s). The car is HUGE. It had a very long nose which made it a bit hard to see....but I hate to admit, I'd totally spend the money on one.....

First: The looks~

This is such a sexy looking car....for those who like classic American. I am a fan of that square front nose that looks like it could suck in and eat a cat as you drive by one. It definitely has personality. And the stretched out tail lamps in the back is definitely attractive to me.

Second: The feel~

Something I love about Chrysler, and this might be thanks to Daimler...but I absolutely enjoy the sound system in Chrysler cars.... I went out and bought one of those Droid phones before going and listening to my Pandora radio stations in that thing was a great joy.

I was also interested in how they designed the back seats. They put lights in the back of the chairs to light the area for the people in the back (as my friend puts it, a "Crotch Light"). They also gave the back seat a center arm rest with cup holders. I thought that was pretty good...just wish they'd give more space for your legs (as I complain about later).

The car was also Crazy comfortable. I remember riding around in a Camaro that I got my hands on and I remember it being very low to the ground and very sporty. Still a very good car...but this is a totally different feel. You ride a bit higher, visibility is better, the ride seems softer and more comfortable yet doesn't feel like a boat around corners. This model has a 3.5L V6 and I hate to admit the power is lacking in this car, but strangely enough I didn't mind too much. I was happy with the fact that I was driving this car, with it's comforts and looks.

A couple of down sides....The interior is a bit plain.....If this car was the SRT8, I would excuse any plainness that this car has because of how much fun that car would be to drive. However as a normal one, looking at the dash was a bit boring (unlike the Camaro with the retro gauges).

And~ I am 6'5"....Looking into the back seat told me that a small child or an amputee would be the only people who could sit behind me. The back seats were a bit small. However, if I'm honest, it's a sports car.....Who's going to use this as their family of 4 car? It'd be you and your girl up front, windows down, rocking out and cruising the pacific coast/country side.

Journey to a Dodge Dealership.....

2010-03-03T22:13:00.002-10:00

So I got to drive around a Dodge Journey today and at first glance, I didn't really feel a need to drive one. I was a bit excited because this was the R/T version and I'm a bit of a fan of Dodge cars at times. The big problem that I always felt about driving one is once the adrenaline died down from all the fun, I would think, "I would never buy one. It's too impractical." However, I think I may have found the cure.

I felt that the car or SUV whatevers was pretty responsive. When I stepped on the gas, it really went somewhere. I would turn the wheel and it pulled me in whatever direction I wanted it to go. It felt like (if I were a parent) could drive my kids to school and go straight to a race track in the same vehicle. This thing as 3 rows of seats, leather, great sounds and the most surprising; good fuel economy...good for a dodge anyway. I got around 22 mpg, which is about the same as my Taurus and this has a 3.5L V6 that really feels great. I just had this feeling that the car wanted me to step on the gas. In this, I wanted to keep going faster....maybe because I was driving in traffic, haha~

I hate to say, I would really want to buy one.

Ride that....Taurus?

2010-03-03T21:51:00.003-10:00

I must first say that my present car is unfortunately a Ford Taurus.... It's a 1994 with the 3.oL V6. It's not a horrible car, I've driven worse; like the Escort for example. However the only real reason I drive this car because it cost me only $500, and it still works. In a way, it was a great deal; (I didn't spend thousands to fix it).

Now, with the current Taurus, the feeling I have is not the same. I might say I would pick that above most every car available on the market. If I were walking down the rows of National-Rent-A-Car and came across the new Taurus, I would pick that in a heartbeat.

And Why? I must say that Ford really stepped up their game. I think the car looks great, and handles great. I had the chance to drive a brand new one (straight from the pier) and decided to open her up a bit. It was fun. This model was the Limited model and it had comfortable leather seats, a backup camera (which is rare in Hawaii), a 6 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and a great sounding audio system; just to name a few of the great things.

The one thing I remember the most above all that is how great the suspension felt when taking a turn. I wasn't very shy to take corners a bit quick, but the suspension really held up and worked well with the transmission. Even though I had it in full auto, the computer seemed to know that I was driving a bit harsh and didn't up-shift as I let go of the gas. It kept a low gear and I could take the corner very smoothly.

I really liked it a lot. I must say the only real down side to this car...the 3.5L V6 felt a bit week. Fortunately, if you're willing to dish out the money, there is a twin-turbo SHO version!!!~

Ruining the People's Car

2009-11-26T16:02:00.002-10:00

The one car that identify with VW, growing up in Hawaii, is the original Beetle. When the New Beetle was introduced, I thought to myself, "Well that's great." However, I drove one a few days ago and I've come to discover something quite important. THE NEW BEETLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLD ONE. To me, what made the old one great is the fact that is was a real car, and cheap. Engine in the back, light weight, surprisingly roomie, cheap, and basically a fat Porsche in terms of performance. The new one, not the same. As I was driving it, I realized...wow this is very boring. It doesn't feel anything like a mid-ship....and I opened the trunk......to see a trunk........THE ENGINE IS IN THE FRONT!!!!! Oh well...now I see why this is only a girls car. Boys, buy a Jetta or Golf or something with testicles.

Ford Flex's It's Muscles

2009-09-16T21:55:00.002-10:00

Today I drove the new Ford Flex for the first time. I must admit...I love the way that car looks. For those who know me, I do like my boxy cars (xB, Cube, etc.) but I really think this car just looks good and not looks good to some.

Inside was nice and roomie. I'm 6'5" and I don't usually fit well in cars, but the Flex is very comfortable. However, and I don't ever say this, but the car feels too big... From the outside, it looks nice and not unusually big, but inside it's very comfortable and there's 3 rows of seats. I looked back and thought, "Is this too much?"

Driving it was very comfortable. The model I drove had black leather seats and I thought, I would be proud to pick up someone important in this car (Boss, Mother-in-law, etc.) The sound system in there is also very nice (Sony I believe). The car's breaks and acceleration wasn't too sharp in any one direction. It was just very predictable. And for 2010, you'll have the option of the SHO engine (3.5L twin-turbo) that pushes 355hp and 350lb.-ft of torque. I bet that'll be exciting.

New Classic Jeep

2009-09-16T21:46:00.002-10:00

I recently started a job that lets me drive a bunch of new cars. A few days ago, I got to drive the new Jeep Wrangler...I remember riding in a Jeep when I was a kid. The suspension was stiff and the ride was bouncy. I though to myself, "I bet this vehicle hasn't changed in 30 years." The Jeep was from the 80's so I'm relating to the old war Jeeps. Hoping in the new one...both 2dr and 4dr...I hate to admit that it still feels like the same old Jeep. Even though it looks much more modern, riding down the road still feels the same. I remember driving my grandpa's old 1970 ford Bronco and the suspension felt similar.

I havn't decided yet if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Kinda like, don't fix what's not broke...

F3: Failure at Fun Factory

2009-08-23T19:21:00.002-10:00

Today, Aug. 23 is tournament day at the Maui Mall Fun Factory for a Tekken 6 Warm-up Tournament. This is basically a pre-tournament to get people ready for the Tekken tournament that is going to happen.

A friend of mine, who loves the game, enters because of his love for the game...and the $60 grand prize too. However, there is one major problem.....

The tournament rules that has been set up by Fun Factory are extremely F#@ked Up:
36 people entered the tournament today; Each person receives a number.
In order to play, you MUST pay for the game as if you were playing in the arcade normally. ($1 per game).

Player 1 is set to play Player 2. If Player 1 wins, he stays on the machine and Player 3 challenges Player 1. This continues unless Player 1 loses, then which the player who beat him stays on the machine.

The problem with this, if you don't already understand, is that Player 1 has to play through 35 people to win the prize. This gives him a 1 in 36 chance of winning and has to pay $35 to get through that far. Player 36 then has the best advantage. He has a 1 in 2 chance of winning and only has to play $1. I think 50% is too high compared to 2.7% chance of winning....FAIL.

I'm very dissapointed in you, JAL....

2009-07-22T07:33:00.003-10:00

I was in Japan for the past month, and it was awesome. But I must comment on my return yesterday. I few Japan Airlines (JAL) and I love flying with them, but this experience was quite horrible.

First, we arrive late with an hour left before boarding. I'm checking in to the JAL desk at Kansai International Airport. My bag is 3.7kg over and the lady at the counter asks me if I can take something out. Now, I'm thinking, that's not so bad...I think I can take out that much. Customer service in Japan is great because the culture requires them to be so polite. But then a lady from another desk comes out and says, "Your gate's closing already. Just pay the $50." First thought was "$50!" Bullshit, that's a lot of money for 3.7kg. I could have shipped that back to the USA for less than that. Which turned out to be ¥5000, which in this economy is more like $54.

Then I think, how rude is that. And with that lady standing there making sure I pay, ofcoarse I have to pay. I'm not going to make a fuss in the Air Port, expecially since that's become a big taboo these days.

Then the flight was madly delayed anyway, leaving more than 45 minutes late.

Then the in flight entertainment system was down!

I don't believe I've ever had a bad experience with JAL but there's a first for everything. A message to JAL, as if you have time to browse the internet: "FIX IT!!!~"

Shirokiya You Cheating Bastards!!!

2009-05-25T01:39:00.004-10:00

So I'm at this store at the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu called SHIROKIYA and they're clearing out their electronics section. So I thought, okay I'll take a look. They have a clearance section that they're selling their Display Models and Returns for a large discount. There they had a pair of MDR-V250 Headphones. Well, I thought, this is quite a nice pare of headphones for only $12. This is quite a deal. I take them home to find out that one side of the headphones is BROKEN AND CAN'T BE WORN!!!!! Looking at the reciet, it's stamped in bright red: "ALL SALES FINAL". Now I feel that $12 is a lot for BROKEN headphones and I'll give you something in red, SHIROKIYA CAN'T BE TRUSTED!!!!!!! Like the Shirokiya of Maui, the Ala Moana version is soon to follow...

The Cutest Toyota iQ I Ever Saw

2009-05-10T18:17:00.002-10:00

This has to be one of the cutest cars ever. His name is Pichon-Kun. He's the character for an AC company called Daskin. It supposed to be a drop of water. Good stuff, those crazy Japanese...
[http://life.oricon.co.jp/news/photo/index.php?n_id=65884&p_id=p00200905070790054001241677905L&seq=2]

As if the GT-R wasn't awesome enough...

2009-04-01T20:38:00.005-10:00

I picked up a Japanese magazine at my local J-Market and in there is an article about the Nissan GT-R...LM. WTF!~ As if the car isn't awesome enough, this will be the high performance version of the Nissan GT-R...Not the Spec-V. This version will have up to 592hp!!! Uh...Feeling...Week...Want...GT-R.....

Who says the Yaris isn't cool?!?!?

2009-04-01T20:07:00.004-10:00

In Japan, the Toyota Yaris 5-Door is called the Toyota Vitz, and in the mother land they have the Vitz RS. This is a modified, Turbo version of the Vitz. This car comes loaded with an LSD, lowered sports tuned suspension, OZ Racing wheels, Recaro seats, and a turbo setup from TRD and Toyota's in-house tuner, Modellista. I REALLY hope Toyota grows some balls and puts a turbo on the Yaris.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE Yaris IS A GIRL'S CAR?!?!?

The Even Smaller Sony Vaio...

2009-04-01T19:42:00.003-10:00

Sony has the Vaio P-Series, Lifestyle PC...and it's a super tiny notebook computer. It's pretty basic, other than being small, and has a built in camera and a 4 hour battery life. The thing I found interesting, that I think is worth mentioning, is it has GPS navigation. If you have a PDA, you might think about using one of these instead.

I would totally have one of these in my car. All I need is one of those wireless internet cards and I'd have GPS and internet radio...even YouTube to distract me into a tree!

The NEW Scion iQ?

2009-04-01T19:17:00.006-10:00

So AutoWeek has spy photos of the Toyota iQ getting rebadged as the Scion iQ. Doesn't really suprise me. With the exception of the tC, everything is a rebadged Toyota in some way...
[AutoWeek]

April Fools, BMW....

2009-04-01T19:05:00.002-10:00

Oh BMW...You crazy Germans. But I must say, this would be a hilarious thing to have on the road. This reminds me of an episode of Top Gear.

What if Kia's are cool?

2009-03-17T14:40:00.003-10:00

I've been thinking about getting a new car, but I can't help but feel the shrinking economy as a huge negative point to buying a car. For those who actually need a car, for whatever reason, often rely on cheap cars like Kia as their mode of transportation. Their cars are often super cheap and offer a 10 year/whatever thousand mile warranty. But what if Kia's were still cheap, AND cool? I couldn't even imagine a world like that. All I can say, Kia, is that if you plan on making cool cars you should still keep them cheep. Or they better FAR out perform any Honda or Toyota. In the photo, is the 2010 Kia Koup. Don't F___ this up Korea. This is your chance to win me over.

Spec-V Me!

2009-03-11T14:31:00.001-10:00

Sweet Mecha-Jesus! I LOVE the new GT-R...but this is the kind of erm in your pants awesome. The new Skyline GT-R Spec-V is looking to come out in 2010 and Toshio Suzuki plans to return to the Nuremberg ring with it to chop off about 4 to 5 seconds off the time held by the current GT-R. The car won't be too dramatically different; some computer upgrades, weight reduction, and new styling. There is one element that looks to change...The $170,000ish price tag! That's a huge difference! Well, fortunately (or unfortunately) it doesn't look like you can get one out of Japan anytime soon. (Start saving). [http://www.rsportscars.com/nissan/2010-nissan-gtr-spec-v/]

All that BuZZZZZZZZ...

2009-03-11T01:07:00.002-10:00

So I've been hearing some noise lately about the new 370Z from Nissan...some great, some terrible. I have to voice my opinion also...

There were some comments on Road & Track about the new 370 and the one that really caught my eye was the complaints about the Rev Matching feature. I have to say, this is a great thing. Not every person in the world is going to be great at heal-toe. I am 6'5" and as a result, never have the leg room to heal-toe. Therefore, if I want to drive a car HARD and not end up in a ditch, I need an automatic (which is sacrilegious). So I applaud Nissan for their work in this technology...you bastards.

Korean Bastards Pt.2

2009-03-08T22:56:00.002-10:00

Now, I am a HUGE fan of the Japanese box wagon. Toyota bB/Scion xB and Corolla Rumion/2nd Gen Scion xB are awesome cars. Kia is coming out with this Beast that's really caught my attention and I CAN'T STAND IT!!! The only Kia I would WANT to buy...

(Fat EMO tear)

Korean Bastards Pt.1

2009-03-08T22:37:00.005-10:00

So I was driving home one day and I had stopped at the light just before my house. It's usually a long light so as I sit there JAMMIN' to my music, this sexy car pulls up to the light next to me. I think DYA~MN that's a hot car.....(seeing the Hyundai badge) Mother F@#(ers...

I can't believe my eyes...I good looking Korean Car?!?!? Much to my suprise, they really went all out on this car.

However, I still get to make fun of Hyundai because there's a commercial that says, "You win one award, and suddenly everyone gets your name right." The best part...the narrator for the commercial says the name wrong! Stupid!~ XP

Shocking...Get it!

2009-02-16T21:54:00.002-10:00

Ah yes, another cheesy reference but true. This is the new electric car from Aptera and it does catch the eye. This California company started with the idea of building a car that is safe and efficient. What they built is a wing on wheels. The 2e is a very aerodynamic electric vehicle (0.15 drag coefficient) that is light and strong. The 2e can travel 100 miles on one charge, 0-60 in under 10 seconds and a top speed of over 85 mph. This car has a few interesting extras, including LED interior lighting, radio/CD/DVD/MP3 player, climate control, GPS with touch screen monitor, backup camera, keyless entry and ignition and gullwing doors. That's not even the cool part. There are solar panels on the roof that power a cabin cooling system to keep the interior temperature down at all times! That would be useful here in Hawaii...

The Great Escape

2009-02-09T12:47:00.002-10:00

The other day, I had the opportunity to drive a Ford Escape Hybrid...and I hate to say, "I Loved It!" Unlike the Prius, it doesn't feel hybridy. I don't hear a loud roar of a small engine waking up because the electric can't pull it's weight, and it doesn't kick in every time I try to accelerate. I was driving to the Costco in downtown Honolulu, pulled off the freeway steped on the break to slow for traffic and the engine had cut. From that moment on, the engine didn't even turn on once. I drove from the freeway exit to the Costco entirely on electricity...ironically driving past a long line for Costco Gas. The engine is so quiet that you can hardly tell when it turns on unless you're at a stop (Engine needs to run for AC to work) or really tring to give it some gas (pun intended). It was a lot of fun.

The Hatch For Me

2009-01-22T20:02:00.002-10:00

When it comes to Hatches, there are many to chose from these days. At first, you're option was really the Honda Civic. We didn't have the options that Europe and Asia has. But because of the down economy and high gas prices, we got to now have our own. From the Toyota Yaris to the Scion xA/xD and Suzuki SX4, there are many sexy options. I have officially decided on the one for me however. It will have to be the SX4 AWD. I love the way the SX4 WRC Car looks and I know if you go to the dealer, you won't get anything that looks like it, but thanks to Suzuki Sport Racing in Japan, I can get something similar. NICE!~

Scion xD...XD <--Laughing

2009-01-22T19:57:00.003-10:00

I must say, when I first saw the new xD, I really didn't like it. However, I've someone grown to like it. If it were a couple of inches lower, it would totally be an awesome hot hatch. Some of you may also know that this is also the Toyota Ist in Japan and I must also say it's pretty sexy. Go see Mike Chang at Servco Scion Mapunapuna (If you live in Hawaii). I would like to see more Ist replicants!!!

Built Chang Tough

2009-01-22T00:00:00.003-10:00

So I currently am driving a Ford Taurus, and I was talking to my friend Mike about the posibility of buying another American car. He went on about it's going to break down so quick and American cars suck and he would never buy one in his life. I can't knock the spoiled out of him, I have a friend (Keri) who thinks the exact same way. But some of us are college students who only make a few hundred a month and can't really afford to buy a Japanese car.

I tried to explain how American cars aren't too bad and that Ford has really come up in reliability. So this article is for you, Mike.

Read This! (http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/10/ford_reliability_closes_in_on.html)

You'll even like the part about how reliable the xD's are.

The Z Factor

2009-01-21T23:58:00.002-10:00

I'm sure that titles been used before...

My good friend Eric passed away 1 year ago (Jan. 19th) and in his memory, I have is old 300z. I was thinking about it the other day and got myself thinking about Z's in general. I remember this article from Car and Driver abut the new 370z.

At first, I kept thinking, if I were trying to be cheap, I would just buy an old 350z. I didn't think anything was wrong with it. The money you would save makes up for the difference in HP. But then...something caught my eye more than the weird looks and the increase in power. [S-Mode]. A little button that I hadn't seen before. Reading more into it, I discovered that the 370z has something called "SynchroRev Match" that basically does Rev Matching for you.

Rev Matching...from what I could determine...is when you're going to shift a manual transition, and make that shift smooth, you're going to do this thing called Rev Match. Let's say you're going from 3rd to 2nd in making a turn (heal-toe style): step on the break, push in the clutch, shift into 2nd, (while still on the break and clutch) pump the gas to bring the revs up, let go of the clutch before the revs drop, let go of the break and you can now gas it through the turn. Sounds like a lot of work to me. That's why I've never tried. With this "SynchroRev Match" (of what I THINK happens): step on the break, push in the clutch, shift to 2nd, let go the clutch and go.

Nissan...you're making it too easy for people to drive fast...and I congratulate you for it.

The Eric I'll Never Forget

2009-01-19T00:09:00.003-10:00

It's interesting seeing this image.

It's been a year since the passing of my good friend Eric Rynearson and I must say that I'm still sad he's gone. I'm almost bothered that I didn't even get to see him that often because I've been here on Oahu.

As I'm about to graduate, I'm starting to look at moving back to Maui as an option because of the many things I'm missing there.

And yet I'm thinking of leaving the country all together and going to Japan for a year. I've never been outside of Hawaii for more than a few weeks and I wonder what that would be like. To live in a new place...almost totally unfamiliar to you...

Well, Eric, just wanted to let you know you're still in our hearts and minds.

It's Electric

2009-01-19T00:01:00.002-10:00

If you've read some of my previous blogs, I LOVE cars. Anything about cars and car related stuff. So to continue my Foodland movie rentals, I had to see this film.

I have a love/hate feeling about electric cars. I love the idea: simple, clean, cheap. However there's one big problem for me...how do I recharge the damn thing. I live in an apartment. I park my car in a parking not. No plugs. But I live in Hawaii... In Cali, they had put in recharging stations and made a big push to have them around but because of a fear of loss in profits from a number of people (Oil and Auto Companies for example) they trashed the idea.

In it's replacement they have Fuel Cells. I am a huge supporter of Hydrogen. The thing about Fuel Cell cars, that I agree with Top Gear (BBC) on, is that it's not much different from the current car of today. I drive it, I need fuel, I go to a station and fill it up. I don't have to wait 16 hours to fill the tank. (For those who wish to check out the Top Gear episode, it was season 12 episode 7 aired Dec. 14 2008) However the documentary makes a few good points as well, and I know my science enough to understand. Hydrogen is very expensive to make. Currently it uses more electricity to make hydrogen then if you were to just have an EV or even a gas car.

To plug my brothers company (H2 Technologies), he's working on making it cheaper and easier to produce Hydrogen. They even got an old Suzuki Sidekick to run off hydrogen. Just as there are people working to make EVs more efficient and viable, there are people out there doing the same for hydrogen and I still feel that hydrogen is going to be the energy of the future. Honda, the ball is in your court. Don't drop the FCX like the EV.

Bangkok What?

2009-01-18T23:49:00.002-10:00

So I discovered that Foodland has these DVD vending machines renting DVD's for $1/day and I randomly decided to watch Bangkok Dangerous. In my mind, I'm thinking it's going to be this terrible movie - with the stereotypical white male killing Asian men and sleeping with their women. (Yellow Rage - as someone would say).

However, as the film went on, it really stopped feeling like that. I really started to like it...and at the end of the film, I really liked it.

This film is a remake with the same directors as the old one, and I don't know what the old one was like, but I recomend this one to friends if they want an action film that's not the Hollywood stereotype.

Where are you going?

2009-01-13T00:46:00.002-10:00

Another year has gone from my life and I can't help but think how it's been wasted...

I saw my friend Charles the other day and can't believe how depressed I would be if I had his life. His father left his family when he was young and hasn't heard from him since...and his mother has ovarian cancer and doesn't have much more to live...

In that, I can't help but think of a book I've read. (なぜ生きる)

Every action has a definite purpose. Riding in a taxi, for instance, even the quietest person speaks up without hesitation to tell the driver his destination. Otherwise, the driver would have no idea which way to go. Heading off in a direction chosen at random would be a waste of time and money.

Ask someone why he is studying, and he is likely to mention a test the next day, or talk about getting his license. Ask someone where she is off to, and she may say she's going shopping, or out for a breath of fresh air. All our actions have a purpose.

What if someone asked you the point of living? What would you answer?

And I must admit, I don't have one. Why do we go to work? Why do we have families? Why do we live? In the world, there is always a cause and effect. If humans were to disappear from the earth, what would be effected? In high school, a friend felt that humans have no purpose in life and should not exist in the world....I should ask him how he feels today, because maybe that's how I'll feel tomorrow.

How Time Flies

2008-12-31T01:16:00.003-10:00

Ah yes, the Blog...

It has been many months since my last blog...in fact, an entire semester has gone by. A slight recap: I went to Japan and ate lots of awesome food, went to HIFF and saw lots of awesome films, I am the co-chair of YESS Camp 26 and I survived another fun filled semester (full of stress and lack of sleep).

Good times.......sort of.

Now it is the winter and I am enjoying the wonderful, chilled winter air here on the island of Maui, and I can't help but contemplate here as the year comes to an end. I have observed many things in my time in college and I'm about to finally start my last semester. I've come to realize that I'm missing one really important thing...that I won't reveal (Bohahaha~)

It is my belief, coming into the New Year, that every person needs recognition from 3 groups of people to be happy. The least important, but never missed, is friends. I only say least important because, though your friends will support you in so many ways, they aren't supposed to be that close. If you were to find out that a close friend of yours is gay, you might be, "My god, I had no idea...but whatever makes you happy mate." However, your immediate family might feel differently, and they come in 2nd. I believe this because a family shares an important common thing: blood. They are YOU at a different stage of life. Your parents look at you as a future version of themselves. Finally, the most important is a soul mate: in my view, they are you. People talk about their other half because they're right. You and your wife (or husband whichever way you swing) will be living with you, thinking about the things you think about, having your kids, and the two of you become one. I honestly believe, you need all three to work hand in hand to experience true happiness.

I'm sure it's pretty obvious as to which one I'm missing but hopefully this new year will prove to be more prosperous.

Happy New Year everyone and if you're going to drink...don't get caught driving.

No Halloween!?!?!

2008-07-07T20:27:00.004-10:00

It's not news that Front St. in Lahaina is the place to be for Halloween, but the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission has denied the LahainaTown Action Committee for use of Front St. to celebrate Halloween. The apparent reason for this is because this event gives Lahaina a bad name. "What do you want Lahaina to be remembered for, the host culture's importance as far as the home of the alii or royalty or for the Halloween party," said commission member Kalei Moikeha. "It just seemed like it was very disrespectful for the host culture to allow these stages to be set up in the district." (Sure, lets not disrespect the ancient Missionaries with our Pagan Rituals!!!)

Credit: Maui News

Wonderful Food!!!

2008-07-07T20:00:00.003-10:00

On Sat. June 28, I attended the Flavors of Honolulu, not to be mistaken with the Taste of Honolulu. I had some wonderful things. There were wonderful deserts. I had some Crepes from Le Crepe Cafe, Crystal Chen (who took the picture) had this banana fosters cheesecake (Planet Hollywood) that was awesome, Mr. Lum had some bread pudding and Teramisu with Kona Coffee Anglaise (Bali By The Sea), and all were delicious. In the picture, I have a Sceared Kona Kampachi from Bali By The Sea. I thought it was awesome. Mr. Chang and Alana had a Sceared Garlic Ahi with Sweet Wasabi Sauce on some lettuce from Koi that was totori dirishosu (totally delicious). I recommend going next time around.

バカアメリカ人

2008-07-02T19:22:00.002-10:00

So I've become a bit irate at the attention eMoble is getting over their latest commercial that they pulled off the air, because of criticism that this reflects racism. Now, I sympathize that Afro-Americans have had a tough past and every minority can relate a little in some way or another, but people are so closed minded that the people making the criticism is just as bad as racists.

To summarize, the commercial reflects the campaign of Sen. Obama and has the speaker as a monkey. Westerners around the world have quickly jumped to call Japanese people and eMoble (cell company in Japan) a bunch of racists. On the other hand, Japanese people have not seen any relation to the commercial as racism or anti-black or anti-Obama. The eMoble Masquot is a monkey and in Japanese/Shinto culture, the monkey is praised as a protector against evil and is depicted as many deities.

With a wonderful tool like the internet to provide such information as on the A to Z Photo Dictionary, people like colorfire of YouTube can say "LMAO monkeys are sacred in Japan? Ladies and gentlemen, we've got another politically correct wannabe who knows absolutely nothing" in response to someone in defense of the commercial. israelsprincess07 from YouTube says, "Japanese are such haters!"

stanrob on 2008PresidentialElection.com says, "I know we Obama supporters have enough on our plates trying to disprove Obama smears and the like domestically, but as an American living in Japan, I can't help but be deeply offended by a commercial by a cell phone company (emobile) trying to cash in at Mr. Obama's expense."

On CNN's Political Ticke r, many have strong comments like Linda Esen saying, "How can they not have known this was racist????? How would they portray McCain?? No worries; when Obama is President - Japan will bow down to the dominance that is the US of A". Pat Va's reply to eMoble's president's comment of "now we know" had this to say, "This idiot needs to be fired post-haste!!! What century is he living in???" HEINRICH says, "This is really outragous.That phone company and the people behind this are totally idiots." Peter Damoah-Afari says, "How can some Japanese be so stupid?" Nicole in NE says, "DISGUSTING - in so many ways!" Naomi, Texas says, "Appauling!" Obama-Junkie, IL says, "Japanese media is notoriously racist towards people of African descent..." Don says, "And the ugly head of racism persists. Why are some human beings so stupid?" LET IT GO says, "How digusting , times haven't change at all, It 's amazon how many dummies we still have in the world." Jim from IL says, "This is an outrage! I am sure the Hillary or McCain camps have somthing to do with this. Get on board you bunch of racist!!!!! Obama will win wheather you like it or not, so start geting used to respecting him!!!!!!!"

And much much more for each of these sites and all over the blogosphere. Before everyone in this country starts getting irate about Japanese being racist, how about learning more about other people's culture...and since we're on the topic of anti-Japanese, how about we all look up Japanese Concentration Camps?

China and their hunger

2008-06-04T18:27:00.003-10:00

Every now and then, I feel the strange need to read something that I don't really care much about in order to feel smarter. So I pick up an Economist magazine. Good reading; I must say I have learned much about the world. However, there has been much talk about China lately and The Economist has featured an article on China's quest for resources called "A Ravenous Dragon". In this article, I founds something interesting: China needs oil as much as soybeans...(see chart to right). I think it's interesting that they had to compare copper, oil and soybeans.

READ THE ECONOMIST!!!

Oh Lexis....

2008-06-01T23:33:00.002-10:00

Ah, Lexis. The dream of every Japanese male is Hawaii. My buddy Mike Chang has himself an IS250, and it's crazy sexy. But one problem I'm noticing, the IS F doesn't seem to be holding up against proper performance vehicles. Car and Driver prefers the new BMW M3 over the IS F, even though the IS has a bigger engine. Why? Because the technology is just better. Hell, the M3 has a carbon fiber roof. CARBON FIBER......yes. I reciently read on Jalopnik that the IS F was entered by Toyota in a 24h race at Nurenburg and did really bad. And both the IS and BMW have similar base prices, yet my Azn Pride still wants me to go with the IS F. Though the Servco Lexis in Honolulu won't welcome you with open arms to check it out. To get a test drive, you'll have to be approved by their finance department or something. Sexy car though.
(Pic comes from C/D Website)

ETEC 414: Flickr

2008-04-18T11:13:00.000-10:00

Aloha, Aloha...

2008-04-18T00:14:00.002-10:00

So I'm a little late, but as most of you know...Aloha Airlines is gone. I really can't believe it. Aloha has been such a basic part of my life, it's weird to think they're gone. I haven't been keeping track on business, but how did this happen? Was it Aloha that had that problem where the roof ripped off, and they made a movie about it and everything? I actually don't remember if that was the one, but I'm trying to prove a point. Oh, well...

Superferry under attack again...

2008-04-17T23:32:00.004-10:00

Taylor and I went to McDonald's for breakfast this morning, and I lean over to look at the Star Bulletin and what do I see on the front page? The Superferry... Well, it turns out, that the State of Hawaii had been pressured by the Hawaii Superferry to accept them before June 30, 2005 or they wont come to Hawaii. This is all according to an audit that's supposed to be released today. It appears that the State says if they had not made the exemption, the superferry would not have come to Hawaii, and they were under a lot of pressure to make a decision before the deadline. Garibaldi, President of the Hawaii Superferry, said that they were only stating the facts which was that they had a deadline to meet. The future of transportation in Hawaii isn't looking too good. Gas prices going way high, without Aloha the plane rates are going up, and shipping costs are going up too. What are we going to do???

Check out the article at Star Bulletin.

The Electric World

2008-04-15T21:58:00.002-10:00

A company called Phoenix Motorcars is introducing two news cars for 2009. The most interesting part, fully electric, highway capable SUVs and SUTs. These cars can travel about 130 miles on a single charge and they're planning on an expansion pack to extend the range to 250 miles. Each Phoenix comes with a 6.6kW charger that plugs into a 220V outlet and takes about 5 to 6 hours to charge. The car also has a connector that can let you plug into a rapid charger that can charge the vehicle in 10 minutes! This thing has power too, 400 ft-lbs of torque at 0 RPMs. Now here's the best part: these things are fully loaded like any other vehicle. AC, power windows, power door locks, AM/FM/CD, keyless entry, and so many more options; even a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. The options go so far to include a premium Pioneer sound system and navigation system, Eibach springs, leather seats, 20" Wheels, custom grill, and the list goes on.

Check out these pages for more information:
Maui Energy Group
Phoenix Motorcars
Popular Mechanics - Video from 2006 SEMA

First Hawaiian Bank International Auto Show

2008-04-14T01:21:00.004-10:00

Some time last month, First Hawaiian Bank held its International Auto Show again, and it was as fun as always. Check it out! The new limited edition xB was there, the new Evo X and the STI along with the R8 and the IS F and so many other cool cars.

Save gas, the 3rd world country way.

2008-04-14T01:03:00.003-10:00

So a bunch of my friends have been buying up bikes these days with the gas prices so high. I don't care as much, because it's still cheaper to buy gas (by volume) than a bottle of water! However, if you're one of these people, who insist that $4.399 per gal. of gas is a bit pricey (Maui price of Premium, last I checked) then you might be interested in the Honda Wave 125i. This has a 125cc 2-valve, 4-stroke engine. This has lots of customizations too, which has made it very popular in Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Also, check out the Honda C90. Europe appears to swear by this thing, and gets something like 200 MPG! Looks like a moped, it is a moped, but not in Hawaii where anything more than 50cc is a motorcycle and requires a special license.

Too Late Nissan!!! Scion already made a box!

2008-04-14T00:38:00.003-10:00

So Nissan has is rumored to introduce their own square car, the Cube, sometime this year to the U.S. Interesting looking, I think I like the xB a lot better. I can really say that though until I actually get in one. Apparently, there is a model of this car that seats 7! Well, that would be interesting to see at the very least.

Oh Honda, you crazy...

2008-04-14T00:28:00.004-10:00

The Honda CR-X was one of the more popular cars to come out of that Civic line, and many people were excited to hear that the it would be making a comeback. Well, here's the bad news first. The CR-Z as it's being called is not going to be released as a sports car as many have been anticipating. It is, instead, being made into a continuation of the Insight hybrid car. That's right, hybrid... Oh well. I guess the good news is that it's still sexy and I'm sure it'll be more appealing than driving a Prius. Probably more fuel efficient too.

Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe

2008-04-13T22:39:00.003-10:00

The New 2008 Smart car is very interesting. It is produced by Daimler - Mercedes Benz parent company. It doesn't look like much, but it's quite a cute little car. The interior is very nice and, according to Car and Driver, it's quite fun to drive as well. I'm sure it is too. Being that small, it must be so easy to get around with in the city. It comes with a 61 Cubic-Inch, 3 cylinder, 70 HP engine. For a car with a small engine and is small enough to park nose to curb between parallel parked cars, it only makes about 32 MPG according to tests from Car and Driver. If you want all the basic conveniences of regular cars, the car with the options will cost you just under $15,000. If you're interested in a small cute hatchback that's light on the gas, I think you'll get a better deal with a Toyota Yaris. But, it is a comfortable fit for two and is pretty fun, so I guess it has it's good and bad.

ETEC 414: You Can Request It!!!

2008-04-13T22:18:00.004-10:00

YOU CAN REQUEST IT!!!

Go, Pontiac! GO!!!

2008-04-13T14:05:00.003-10:00

So continuing on with American cars trying to come back, GM's Holden devision in Australia has produced quite a beast (after the GTO). The new Pontiac G8. The GT model comes with a 361 hp, 6.0L V8 and a 6 speed hydramatic transmission. Throw on the options and the G8 GT rises to about $32,745, according to the model tested by Car and Driver. Check the article out at www.caranddriver.com.

Dodge Challenger SRT-8

2008-04-06T00:25:00.003-10:00

Apearantly, the days of the American Musscle car is making a comeback. From the Ford Mustang returning its look to something like from the '60 and introducing several different performance versions (i.e.: Shelby Super Snake, Saleen S302E), the return of the GTO and the Charger, and the Corvette setting the bar that much higher with ZR1, and now the return of the Dodge Challenger. The Challenger was introduced in 1978 but was removed from the Dodge lineup in 1983. Now this beast comes back with a 425hp HEMI V-8 and can do a quarter mile in 14.1 seconds @ 103.2 MPH.
For more information and pictures go to my source at CarandDriver.com. Also, if you haven't seen the new Saleen, check it out at ROADandTRACK.com.

Scion's nice try.

2008-04-06T00:11:00.003-10:00

So at the recient 2008 NY Auto Show, Scion released a concept of a vehicle that has caught attention of some people in a negative way... I hate to say it, but I kinda like how it looks. And let me tell you, I have a friend who works for Scion and he was "disappointed" when he saw it. HOWEVER!!! From the side, it reminds me of a classic American car, but I can't remember what it was called. Apearantly, that's kinda what they were going for too, according to accounts I found on Auto Spectator. The interior looks pretty jammin' also. The slight downside, is it also looks like a golf cart...
[picture came from autoblog.nl]

ETEC 414: Topic & Standards

2008-02-28T23:53:00.005-10:00

"What's Up Doc?"

Working in groups of 4, 10th Grade Students will learn how to make a documentary involving a topic that meets teacher approval, on a topic that can be researched with sources found in books or on the internet. Student will be using a DV camcorder and an Apple computer using iMovie or Final Cut Pro. Video must contain an opening sequence with a title, some narration, have at least 2 interviews, and site 1 source from print or the internet. Technically, video should make use of transitions and contain at least 2. There should be text for the title of video, titles of interviewees, and credits. Title should contain the names of everyone that appeared or spoke in the video, anyone who assisted with the production, any sources sited and any media used (pictures, music, video or any other works not made my the student). Must be about 5 minutes.

In addition to the video, there must be proper release forms to be signed by everyone that appeared in the video. Also, all media used in the video must be copyright free unless a release form is also filled out by the owner of the media. Instructure will provide forms.

A: 10th Grade Students
B: In a group of 4, make a 5 minute documentary.
C: Using a DV Cam, Apple computer, iMovie/FCP and work together as a group
D: Must have 2 interviews, 1 print or digital refrence, 2 transitions, a title, name titles of interviewees, credits, and follow copyright laws.

HCPS III Standards:
Content area: Fine Arts
Standard 1: Visual Arts: Understand and apply art materials, techniques, and processes in the creation of works of art and understand how the visual arts communicate a variety of ideas, feelings, and experiences
Benchmark FA.9-12.1.1 and FA.9-12.1.2

Content area: Language Arts
Standard 6: Oral Communication: CONVENTIONS AND SKILLS: Apply knowledge of verbal and nonverbal language to communicate effectively in various situations: interpersonal, group, and public: for a variety of purposes
Benchmark LA.10.6.1, LA.10.6.2, LA.10.6.5
Standard 7: Oral Communication: RHETORIC: Adapt messages appropriately to address audience, purpose, and situation
Benchmark LA.10.7.1, LA.10.7.2, LA.10.7.3

Technology Foundation Standards for Students
1) Basic operations and concepts

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

Students are proficient in the use of technology.

2) Social, ethical, and human issues

Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.

Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.

Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

4) Technology communications tools

Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

5) Technology research tools

Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks.

ZR1 Awesomeness

2008-02-27T15:13:00.003-10:00

Hey all you Auto Junkies out there, everyone needs to check out the new Chevy Corvette ZR1. Let me tell you, I'm not much of a Corvette fan, but these numbers really put me in a good place. This car, which is to be sold in the US Summer 2008, is expected to push out 620 HP off a 6.2L V8 with a Super Charger. This car is expected to be up there, performance wise, with Porsche Ferrari and Lamborghini. This car even uses the same Brembo breaks as the Ferrari Enzo andFXX. This car is going to cost you though, it plans to run about $100,000. For more information on the "Blue Devil" visit Motor Trend.

ETEC 414: Teaching Video Production

2008-02-21T23:28:00.003-10:00

As for this assignment (Blog Post #4), I'm looking for a website or blog that focuses on my field of teaching that I am interested in. For those who haven't read my previous blog, I'm interested in teaching video production; preferably at a high school level, but it's not necessary.

Fortunately for me, I didn't have to go looking at all. Mathew posted a comment on my last ETEC post asking me to check out videointheclassroom.com and it is pretty awesome. The site focuses on teaching video production for elementary school students, and has very interesting information. It ranges from promoting the use of video in the classroom, showing student works, and even technology and film tips. Cool stuff guys, go check it out!

ACM makes a move!

2008-02-18T22:40:00.002-10:00

Well, looks like the future of my major is up in the air; or I'll be moving to West Oahu.

I guess the senate voted on moving ACM to West Oahu because of ACM not having a home or major. It was taking up space at PBS and the state didn't want to fund the program unless it finally got a real place to call home.

Check out the Ka Leo article yourself, I make a comment to close the article.

http://media.www.kaleo.org/media/storage/paper872/news/2008/02/11/News/Acm-To.West.O8216ahu.Campus-3201074.shtml

ETEC 414 - My Kingdom for a Comment!~

2008-02-07T23:05:00.000-10:00

This is King Toyama III here, (I'm taking a Shakespeare class, just read Richard III)

So I visited 3 of my favorite blogs (Lifehacker, Kotaku, and Jalopnik) and read the comments that are posted. By the way, technology, games, cars, and things Japanese are my favorite interests so that makes my 3 blogs. Comments on these sites appear to be pretty candid. They mention anything from how they liked the subject, complaints or discrepancies on things mentioned, and even questions about their own situation. Some blogs pose questions that some comments answer. It seems like a comment could be anything you feel like posting.

As far as a purpose, I assume that because blogs are postings by a person, most people would like the option to hear others inputs. Otherwise, it's just a journal or a standard website that people could post articles and people would read them or not. This way, you would know what people who read your blog are interested in and what they like or not.

I went on and posted a comment on a blog myself. A very hansome man named Mike Lum in ETEC 414 section 1 made a blog called The Wonderful World Of Lum: My friend's blog. Go and check it out!!!~

Lost...but Never Forgotten

2008-02-03T22:58:00.000-10:00

I returned to Maui this weekend, to attend the funeral of my friend Eric Rynearson. For me, this is a terrible loss, that is actually quite hard for me to get over. I've never lost a friend before. As you get old, death is almost like an expected thing; but a friend who is young, smart, brave and everything you expect from a good man, it's difficult.

On the weekend of Jan. 19, he was coming up to Oahu and we were going to go out clubbing and have lots of fun. I had talked to him a few hours before the accident making plans on what we might be interested in doing. The next day, when I got the phone call of his death, I actually didn't believe it. If it wasn't for the fact that my friend on the other line was crying, I would have laughed. "Haha, good one Paiva."

At that time, I was keeping myself busy. I had work and school so it was easy to keep my mind off the issue. As people heard about it, they would say "sorry for your loss" and I would just say "yeah" or something because I really didn't want to think about it. I saw his picture in the news, and I just started crying. If all it takes is a picture of that cheezy smile of his to make me start crying then I wouldn't want to talk about it at all.

Now, after his funeral, I'm beginning to realize that though he may be dead, he'll always be with me in my heart. As unexpected as it is, it happens and all we can do is be glad that we were fortunate enough to have known this man.

Eric Rynearson
Staff Sergeant
8/12/85 - 1/19/08

ETEC 414: The Teachers Blog

2008-02-01T00:26:00.000-10:00

As the assignment for ETEC 414, I'm looking for a blog that involves teaching video production; preferably at a high school level.

Unfortunately, I couldn't really find one that only related to teaching video production. I found teaching blogs at have postings on video production.

Here are a few examples:
Educational CyberPlayground
Students 2.0
Technology Blog
Creating Lifelong Learners

On another hand, there is a very wide source of Web Sites over Blogs on the subject of teaching video production.
Media Production Homepage
The Basic How-To Course In Video Production
Kids' Vid
Video Production 101

And I even found a textbook on the subject.
Teaching Digital Video Production

I did find Video Production Blogs that might be teaching related...
Video University Forums
Viz
Pro Video Production Blog [my favorite]

This can be useful for my future teaching career because it lets me see how other teachers are teaching the same subject as myself. See techniques that he used, and projects that he did. Also keep up on new technology involving this field of study. I personally like the last one the best. He's a teacher, and does video production things, and his blog has a lot of new video production related information. This helps keep me up to date on information and technology that could be helpful to teaching.

Well, that's my adventures. I'm not sure if this really qualifies as a paragraph in length [for grading] but I'm not sure what else to mention.

Thanks a bunch for reading!~

Rambo~licious

2008-01-31T09:41:00.000-10:00

So I saw "Rambo" last night, and I must say...I enjoyed it. It's just like a Rambo film. I can say that I got what I expected. Basically that's Rambo kickin' a lot of arse.

It basically still follows that same Rambo theme, if you've ever seen the others. This involves a Christian fellowship group heading into Burma to bring aid to a small village. They ask Mr. Rambo if he can take them there, and he tells them it's dangerous, and he refused to take them up there. After lots of persuading by Sara, the wife of the group leader, he finally agrees to taking them. There, they get attacked and the Reverend hires mercenaries to get them back, but they need Rambo to show them where they were dropped off. That's when Rambo decides he'll help get them back.

New...Laptop?

2008-01-31T09:09:00.000-10:00

I'm sitting in my English class when the guy sitting next to me pulls out the smallest laptop I've ever seen. It was half the size of our text book, and was running linux. The curious bastard that I am had to lean over and take a look at his computer. Reading "ASUS" on the front, I decided to do a little research.

The ASUS Eee PC! Weighing in at about 2lbs. This little machine has a 7 inch monitor, running a Linux operating system, 512mb of RAM, and has a Solid-State flash hard disk. The 4G model has a 4gb drive. And, the 4G model costs a blaring $399 and comes in white and black.

A magazine called Ultimate Mobility (pictured above) has labeled this computer their #1 Budget Laptop. On sites like C|Net, they would say this is a good second laptop for travelers, as it has a full 802.11 b/g wireless card and has a built in mic and camera. Also comes preloaded with software like Firefox and Skype. It can also be a good first laptop for children.

For more information, take a look at the Eee PC website or take a gander at Wikipedia...or many of the other tech websites that have reviewed this product.

Introduction to Copyright

2008-01-25T10:58:00.000-10:00

Copyright is a tough issue in the modern age. This Blog is actually created as a result to my ETEC 414 class at UHM. For more information to Copyrights, check out this website on How Stuff Works.

There Will Be Lots Of Blood

2008-01-25T10:51:00.000-10:00

So I just saw the film "There Will Be Blood". This was a very interesting film. The acting, I think was quite brilliant. I could totally relate to the Daniel Day-Lewis's character. He was very fun to watch. I recommend everyone go out and see it.

Transformers Pt. 2

2008-01-25T10:32:00.000-10:00

Transformers Pt. 1

2008-01-25T10:31:00.000-10:00

Who I am

2008-01-25T10:05:00.000-10:00

YO YO YO!~ All you happy people out there in the blogosphere! My name is Wayde and I am a student at the University of Hawaii @ Manoa. I am a film production major at the Academy for Creative Media. That means this will be a video blog...cause I make great videos.....I think.

Some of my many interests are Playing Video Games, Watching TV and Movies, and Driving.

I only really use the internet for work related things so Google.com is a main point. Other than that, MySpace.com, Facebook.com are common places I go to.