Honda is Forcing the Issue

Acura will be releasing their first production line Forced Induction engine, ever.

Import Tuner Article

It will be pushing their mini-vans, but it is still a production Honda turbo. This is a fantastic way to try out the technology on production vehicles that aren't overly performance oriented. Once they get the kinks out of the system, they can start to consider slapping a turbo onto the Civics and the Integras (RSX in the states). Probably earlier than that, they will put one in an Accord or a TSX or TL. They want to be able to compete a bit more with BMW, right now on the high end lines.

Then they can look at taking back the sport compact titles that they used to have.

BUT, if you're thinking about taking this monstorous engine and throwing it in your current Civic or Teg...well...think again. Motor mounts are different. Height is big. And the tranny may not match up either.

But this is one of the most exciting things I've seen from Acura in a long time. I've maintained some pride that they never took the Forced Induction route that gave Subaru and Mitsubishi the edge. But I've also spent enough time looking at Honda being in third place.

And then I think about a 2010 Honda Integra Turbo Type R AWD...



A-hem. Pardon me.

Hawking Says "LEAVE!"

Stephen Hawking has called on the human race to expand civilization into space beyond our solar system:

CNN Article


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Hawking said that if humans can avoid killing themselves in the next 100 years, they should have space settlements that can continue without support from Earth.

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of."
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There are a couple of geeks that step up and say that what Hawking proposes is not going to fit within the realm of what technology will have to offer within the next 50 years. I say those guys are pussies.

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But, he added, "I don't see the likely possibility within the next 50 years of science technology making it easier to survive on Mars and on the moon than it would be to survive on earth."

"I would still think that an underground base, for example in Antarctica, would be easier to build than building on the moon," Guth said.

Joshua Winn, an astrophysicist at MIT, agreed. "The prospect of colonizing other planets is very far off, you must realize," he said.
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Why do you think he's telling you now? Because he knows that you need to pick up the pace! He's not saying it CAN be done within the timeframe of 100 years. He's saying that we need to start figuring how to get something done in a time frame as close to 100 years as possible. He's saying that you pussies aren't thinking outside the mutha-fuckin box!

Hawking is the man. I don't care if he's never read a single book on the subject. If he says something, it is right. When he describes a theory from his research on the time-space continuum, the laws of space and time will change just to be sure it matches what Hawking has just said. I love this guy. He's a brain on wheels. He thinks, and somehow, the human race is better for it.

I wonder what this dude dreams about while he's sleeping...

Hate. A strong word.

I was just thinking about hate, and how some people don't like to use it because it's a very strong word. Well, fuck that. If I didn't feel strongly about it, I would say "I really dislike peas".

No. I feel strongly. About everything. I don't just hate peas, I fucking hate peas. Fuck peas. Fuck fucking peas. Green beady little fuckers.

A friend of mine and I have a joke that's been running for over a decade now. We both get a kick out of how the other applies instant judgement on almost everything and everyone. Regardless of the circumstance, it is judged, filed, and never forgotten. The judgement may change, but that initial "Fuck this." or "Rock on." is never entirely left behind.

Now I take this line of thought, and shift it a little to apply it to meeting new people. I figure there are two kinds of people with regards to how they feel when meeting a new person.

Type A meets someone new, and they think "Oh, wonderful. Knowing this new person is going to enrich my life and give me more experiences to enjoy."
That is not me.

Type B meets someone new, and they think "Oh wonderful. Someone else to piss me off. Knowing this new person will simply provide more tripe for me to fake smiles about. Shit. "
That's me.

It is about the time that "Shit." runs through my head that I make my judgement. It's usually pretty negative. I'm not exactly a people person.

Perhaps it is this aspect of my personality that keeps me from disliking the word "hate"? Maybe? Just a thought...