Photo · Evolution X

# 31 December 08

Geordie is right. I need the Evo. But maybe next time I’m back in the USA.

Have a look at Top Gear’s Power Laps to get an idea how fast this car is. The $38,000 Evo is faster than:
Dodge Viper SRT-10 $88,000
Porsche 911 S $86,000
Merc CL65 (!) $203,000

Happy new year!

The cool salesman said they had something like 15 Evos on their lot, and would be happy to make a deal. Here are 2 more.

Photo · Lancer Ralliart

# 29 December 08

Father Brothers and I visited the local Mitsubishi dealer today to look at the Ralliart (pictured below) and the 09 Evolution. The idea came to us after seeing Top Gear compare the Evolution to the Subaru STI. (video also below). The video doesn’t cover Jeremy Clarkson’s final remarks that the car to buy is the Ralliart, neither the Evo or STI, because you get so much of the performance for so much le$$. So, Father Brothers and I needed to look for ourselves.


Top Gear EVO X vs. WRX STi

Another video: Evo 8 vs. Lamborghini Murcielago

Divers · A couple questions since I've been MIA

# 22 December 08

TWO-WHEEL MOTORCYCLE EXAMINATION
Answers below

If you must stop quickly while turning and you are unable to straighten the motorcycle first, apply the:
A. Front brake and increase your lean angle
B. Brakes harder as the lean is reduced
C. Brakes first and then lean away from the turn
D. Power of a cape

In a normal turn, lean your:
A. Body more than your motorcycle
B. Motorcycle more than your body
C. Motorcycle and your body at the same angle
D. Motorcycle more than your cape

The single most important thing you can do to improve your chances of surviving a crash is to:
A. Wear a securely fastened helmet
B. Be familiar with the motorcycle
C. Ride in the center portion of the lane
D. Wear a securely fastened cape

B.
C.
A.

Divers · Evil Knieval

# 14 December 08

TWO-WHEEL MOTORCYCLE EXAMINATION
Answer below

To pull a wheelie at high speed while being pursued by a police vehicle with its lights and siren activated, it’s important to:
A. Wear a cape
B. Properly maintain your motorcycle
C. Use your turn signals and hand gestures

A.

Reading · The 4-Hour Workweek

# 13 December 08

The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

My Brother-in-law loaned me this book and he swears by it. Over coffee one morning this week he told me about the 20/80 principle; that 20% of your work leads to 80% of the outcome. That and other ideas are offered in this Lifestyle Design, work-smarter-not-harder, book. So far, so good.

Page 13 opens with the quote by Niels Bohr that, “An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.” In light of my multiple failures at the DMV while trying to renew my motorcycle license, this quote made me much happier. Suddenly I’m an expert! My Dad couldn’t help but tell the barber shop today that I’d failed, twice, to renew the license. To divert their ridicule I brought up the question below, which we all enjoyed. Answer below the pic.

TWO-WHEEL MOTORCYCLE EXAMINATION
Directions: Study the handbook before you take the test.

You are being pursued by a police vehicle with its lights and siren activated. You have deliberately ignored the officer’s warning to stop and have sped away. During the pursuit a person is killed. You are subject to:
A. A fine of not less than $10,000
B. Imprisonment in a state prison for six years
C. Being jailed in the county jail for not more than one year

Lou, of Simpsons fame, enforcing motor vehicle code in Springfield.

B.

Divers · I'm no Steve McQueen

# 11 December 08

Failure.

I visited the California Department of Motor Vehicles today since my drivers license expires mid-2009 and I have no idea when I’ll be back.

I was so completely distracted by the framed pictures of our President and Governor, messers Bush and Schwarzenegger, that I failed the renewal test for my motorcycle license. Twice.

Doh!

Thank God that third time is the charm. And yes, you can take the test 3 times before you’re hauled around the back and shot for being a total degenerate and for corrupting the global gene pool. They’ll get me next time…

For your own edification I’ll be posting some of the test questions over the coming days. You’ll find the answer below the picture. Enjoy!

TWO-WHEEL MOTORCYCLE EXAMINATION
Directions: Study the handbook before you take the test.

To predict how a hazard may affect you, it’s important to:
A. Watch for brake lights or turn signals
B. Adjust speed to get around the hazard
C. Know the speed, distance, and direction that the hazard is moving

C.

Admin · For my second act...

# 10 December 08

...I will fly in my whirligig from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

Admin · Heading to California

# 6 December 08