Finesse... my car blog 我的汽车博客。
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Posted:Apr 19, 2014 9:03 pm
Last Updated:Apr 22, 2014 10:07 am 33265 Views
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Earlier this year, I bought a new car. 2014 Hyundai Veloster.
Although it's a really nice sporty looking economy car, the most noticeable thing to complain about is it's lack of finesse. Yes, I'm being picky.
Many of the controls (on new cars) are digital and/or electro-mechanical and that equates to a lack of smoothness. I'm an analog kinda guy and miss the 'control-ability' of steel cable from accelerator to carburetor/fuel injector and not some electronic pedal that's spring loaded to 'feel like an accelerator pedal.' My senses tell me I'm driving an arcade game and not a real car.
Maybe it's better in more expensive vehicles, but finesse is lacking on the low end of the spectrum.
我买了一辆经济型轿车。它不具有精细度。一些控件不畅通。
Some examples:
The drivers window automatic down has a hair trigger. The slightest touch and it's on it's way down. Usually it takes three tries to get the window to only go down 2 inches.
The rear hatch doesn't have a key access. From the outside, you must use the wireless key lock. The same for the passenger doors. The actuator on the hatchback is a membrane that senses pressure and activates an electric switch to release the hatch.
Only the drivers door can be opened by a key.
Seat adjustments... choppy. After you think it clicked into place try pushing and pulling a bit and you'll find out it's not. Be sure the seat 'clicks' and locks or you will get a surprise.
Actually, there is one thing that works smoothly. In the front center of the roof between the visors is a sunglasses compartment that has perfect hydraulic smoothness. I have a spare cellphone for emergency that I stash there.
Cars... I cannot do without one!
这里的每个人都必须有一个车。
Thanks for reading my blog.
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TWANG... my guitar blog 关于吉他的信息
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Posted:Apr 19, 2014 1:19 pm
Last Updated:May 1, 2024 11:47 pm 32551 Views
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Guitar talk. Fender vs. Gibson. The comparisons never end. When it comes to guitar sound, sometimes the musician has more control by personal style than the instrument itself... however that can also be disputed.
Let's look at the specs:
The Fender Stratocaster model has a scale length of 25-1/2" that's measured from the nut to the bridge.
The Gibson Les Paul model (depending on the year manufactured) has a scale length of 24-3/4" from the nut to the bridge.
That's about 3/4 of an inch difference.... in general, a longer string has deeper bass tones and a stronger sound. The shorter string has a warmer tone, lower tension and easier to play.
Jimi Hendrix popularized the Stratocaster. It's said he tuned 1/2 note lower than standard tuning This gave his guitar more of a 'twangy' sound.
There's so much more to guitars than this quick blog reveals... for example, Fender guitars are made as components and assembled on a production line. The neck is 'bolt-on' and can be removed for adjustment or replacement. Gibson necks are typically glued on directly to the body. The difference? Most say the glued on neck has better sustain as the string vibration transmits directly to the body.
Again, the setup and musician performing typically can override those claims. When you're standing in front of three stacks of 100 watt Marshall amps, lack of sustain is NOT an issue!
短规模吉他有着圆润的声音。长期规模吉他有更强的声音。
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I could change your life...
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Posted:Apr 17, 2014 8:07 pm
Last Updated:Apr 19, 2014 4:29 pm 35332 Views
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There is no question in my mind that meeting the right woman will change my life... and hers!
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The Cruise...
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Posted:Apr 13, 2014 10:20 am
Last Updated:Apr 14, 2014 2:40 pm 39169 Views
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I went on a 4 day cruise to the Caribbean last week that took me to Turks and Caicos Islands. Since it was my first time on a large cruise ship, I wasn't sure about seasickness. Twice before I experienced day cruises on smaller vessels and one did 'bring up' breakfast later in the afternoon.
Always prepared, I had 2 kinds of medicine for seasickness expecting the worst. Taking half doses of Dramamine for the first 48 hours, I experienced no affects of nausea and decided medicine wasn't needed. The weather was great and there were times I completely forgot we were at sea.
The food was great... small portions but you could order more if you wanted. The problem there was the timing as we had little chance for another round and make it to the planned events. Broadway shows, comedians, magicians, first run movies, so there was always something going on. During the day, live music in the rotunda and a Calypso band poolside.
Did I mention the food? I gained 5 pounds. Despite walking a few miles on the boat, I still gained five pounds.
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We could meet for lunch!
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Posted:Apr 11, 2014 7:07 pm
Last Updated:Apr 16, 2014 9:19 pm 40115 Views
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I see you visit my profile but never extend any greeting.
It's the weekend and you live near me...
Seriously, if you show me a sign (and hopefully not a stop sign 哈哈!) I would invite you to lunch. My job is 1 hour away from my home so distance is not a problem for me.
好吗？
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ROCK hand gestures...
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Posted:Mar 23, 2014 8:51 am
Last Updated:Mar 23, 2014 9:03 am 39930 Views
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I cannot recall what cool cultural sign Americans made prior to the 1960's 'peace sign' but I do know that singer Ronnie James Dio popularized the 'sign of the horns' when he replaced Ozzy Osbourne (who used to give a peace sign) in the heavy metal group Black Sabbath. Ronnie wasn't the first to do this and stated it publicly, however people remember Dio's Apotropaic Magical symbol said to ward off evil spirits.
(excerpt quote from Ronnie James Dio)
"...It's an Italian thing I got from my Grandmother called the MALOCCHIO. It's to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye, depending on which way you do it. It's just a symbol but it had magical incantations and attitudes to it and I felt it worked very well with Sabbath..."
40 years later, It's gone 'cross culture' and appears in many selfie photos, movie stars appearances and especially photos of hip-hop artists.
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Who's Viewed Me?
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Posted:Mar 21, 2014 3:46 pm
Last Updated:Apr 14, 2014 5:10 pm 41063 Views
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It's been about a month that "Who's Viewed Me?" part of Chinese FriendFinder hasn't worked. I noticed some movement today. Hopefully, it's fixed now!
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Analog versus Digital...
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Posted:Mar 16, 2014 5:44 pm
Last Updated:Mar 21, 2014 3:43 pm 41815 Views
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More and more products on the market are becoming digital.
I bought a car a few months ago and many of the things that used to be mechanical (analog) have been replaced with electro-mechanical (digital) controls.
Very few controls are 100% mechanical.
On my old car, when I stepped on the accelerator, it moved a cable that went to the carburetor that moved a control to the fuel injector. 100% mechanical.
My new car is completely different. The accelerator, is a sensor that transmits a digital signal to a computer. The computer determines the speed (and other factors) then transmits control to the carburetor system. If I 'slam on the gas' there is a good chance the computer will pull back the control because it's programmed to be fuel efficient. The result is 'lunging' where you feel the short acceleration then the power drops making the car have a jerking motion. I don't like it and the service adviser at the dealer tells me there is no adjustment to change this.
I know why car manufacturers do it, but I don't like it.
Analog versus Digital... analog gets my vote!
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Spending a million bucks to look like a million bucks...
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Posted:Mar 7, 2014 6:06 pm
Last Updated:Mar 10, 2014 10:51 am 41617 Views
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I have some wealthy who know a healthy diet and exercise doesn't always 'hold back the years' and they resort to a little 'nip & tuck' to maintain their youthful appearance.
Many years ago, I was assigned to work on a project for the new offices of a famous plastic surgeon. It was reported his first scheduled in the new facility was actor Leslie Nielson. This happened shortly before he filmed The Naked Gun movie.
Good surgery is when people say you look terrific and scratch their head wondering how you look so fine and they don't.
I know a local designer who really wanted his money's worth and they pulled his face tight... like a bongo drum! It was so strange, people often talked about it.
A boss I worked for was Scottish and had the trait of 'Jawls' where his cheeks drooped and eyelids also had excessive skin.
Maybe you've seen the real-life woman obsessed to look like Barbie, where the young woman had a Blepharoplasty... literally tightly pulling the skin around her eyes. Frightening to think someone so young would spend so much on looks... considering she was beautiful to start with.
The Scottish boss had a with the same traits/characteristics and after graduating high-school had surgery to remove his baggy eyelids. The surgeon trimmed the extra skin at the fold line/wrinkle in his eyelids. Surgery... success.
He claimed excessive exercise made sweat drip into his eyes causing irritation. After surgery the problem was greatly reduced.
Not every surgery comes out as expected. There are photos of botched facelifts in many places on the internet.
I used to say, when turn 60 I'm going to have my 'bags fixed' it's been with me as long as I can remember, including baby pictures. I've heard all excuses why I have them... lack of sleep, allergy, hereditary. instead of a trip to a plastic surgeon, I took a trip to China. Anyway, plastic surgery is so far down on my do list I'm not thinking about it anymore.
Thanks for reading my blog... !
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Windows XP... your days are numbered.
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Posted:Feb 28, 2014 3:20 pm
Last Updated:Jun 29, 2023 7:28 am 40956 Views
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Microsoft support for Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003 will end in April 2014. Like it or not, it's a serious position for the hundreds of thousands of working systems in homes and businesses to no longer receive security updates. I'm told 30% of the computers used globally are running with Windows XP.
More than the lack of support, it's rumored there will be a massive release of new virus, malware and other network threats from the hacking community knowing XP users will be more vulnerable.
What to do? I suppose a strong firewall and top rated anti-virus anti-spyware anti-malware software suite... but you should be using that already.
Good luck. Don't open any suspicious e-mails.
And remember... Microsoft doesn't call users.
If you receive a call from someone saying they are from Microsoft to tell you that your computer is infected and you need their assistance to fix it is bogus. Yes, bogus.
这是欺诈行为。微软员工不叫客户。如果有人电话你，说他们是从Microsoft，不听他们的。他们是骗子。他们正在寻找容易上当的用户。他们声称你的电脑有病毒。他们会告诉你如何删除病毒。在此之后，他们会窥探您的个人信息。要小心！
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