Who says Sunday Drives are slow?
Got up bright and early today, shook off my hangover, and headed over to the dealership, for today was testdrive day.
We were sort of late, as most of the prospective buyers were pulling out already, making their way to Tagaytay. I was thinking I’d be stuck with 316i, but lo and behold, there was a shiny red 325i M Sport waiting for me.
“Would you like to drive, sir?”
“Would I?!?”
Chris arrived a couple of minutes after, but I had my hands firmly on the wheel. He’d have to settle for the passenger seat, at least till the next stop. But no, out of nowhere, the guy whips out the keys to Z3 Coupe. What the?
Chris had a smile 5 miles wide.
So we briskly made our way up, SMG’ing all the way. I thought I’d pick up the pace and continue on ahead. Let’s open this baby up.
Snaking through the slow 100 kph traffic, hitting 180, but oh, this baby wanted more. I had to oblige. So I take the long sweeping over pass into the SLEX. Not a tire screech. Damn. I’ma have to break her in, properly.
We’ve hit Petron and hadn’t caught up with any others yet. They must’ve been pushing pretty hard too. So I took it upon myself to catch, at least a 5 series. The traffic going up helped slow things a little, and the X5 was in sight. You’re mine baby. I may have pissed off a couple of compacts and bikers, but at this point I think I’ve properly broken in the 3.
Well, I overdid it and came to a point where I wasn’t even sure if I’ve overshoot the breakfast place or still had it coming. Luckily a lowly 318 was also as perplexed. Tailing him, I found the place and it was off to a hearty brunch. Ever see so many bimmers in a parking lot? The regulars were just as perplexed.
After the lunch, compliments of the dealer, a client wanted to take my M for a spin. Fine. I’d have the Zed on the way down.
It was 10 am. "Too early," I thought. Istokwa? Too tempting to resist. Talisay was just a set of twisties away. With the keys to the Zed and no supervision… aww, what the hell!
So we zoomed past the Sta. Rosa junction and headed to the notorious road. Half the way down was spoiled by a couple of sunday drivers. I’d take them on the straight away.
As I pulled out of the pack and floored on through, a yellow Civic RS made a break for it. A battle? Oh, this is getting better and better.
I never let him out of my sight. He was pushing a 100%. I was just 6/10ths. Hairpin by hairping, the tires squeeled for mercy. Not with 6 pots, oversteer and the confidence-inspiring DSC to back me up. Slipped a couple of times but stability control was a pat in the back. Pumped the brakes just to make sure my rotors wouldn’t give out. It was the final straight before the lake, the Civic made a break for it on a blind curve. I thought I’d stay safely behind an Anfra. When the coast was clear, I throttled past. Who would’ve guessed it? The Civic was parked at the curb, brakes on fire. See’ya! Adding insult to injury, we took a U-ey and went right back up the stage. Worth another round. If Takumi Fujiwara could see me now…
On the way back, I eased up. Seeing the VTEC3 on fire was all the satisfaction I’d need. So I eased off the throttle from then on… occaissionally. The sweet six was just too tempting. Took us an hour to get back, but we still beat the 320d with the trailer to it on the final straight.
Last? Well, we just said we had to stop and take photos. They’d understand.
And the owner? “Well I hope you enjoyed it. That car doesn’t like to be babied.”
“Really?” I answered.
Oh If you only knew.
1.23.2005
On a Sadder Note...
At last night’s drunken stupor, I thought I’d break the rules and say what was forbidden; or at least something we pushed to the very back of our minds like traumatic memories.
I was debating for a while whether I should or shouldn’t. It’s been years, after all.
I said it. Better that I get it out.
It was 2am. I cut the lights and went to bed. It was time to let go.
I wanted it to happen. Sure I’d hurt a few, but the truth does that. And I just can’t keep going on like this. I said what I needed to say and that’s enough I suppose. Funny how I easily get over things when they end badly. That’s partly the reason I wanted to look like I bungled it again. Maybe I’d fool myself a little. Maybe fate will be merciful further down the road. Of course, I’m hoping once again.
“Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness.”
Ah… the viscious cycle.
So I thought I’d revel in celibacy for a while. I’ve got the cars… I’ll be a career person… Got a boat load of heavy rock to help me through it…
“It wouldn’t work out anyway…”
“I’m happier this way…”
Who am I kidding?
It’s not for me this time.
I was debating for a while whether I should or shouldn’t. It’s been years, after all.
I said it. Better that I get it out.
It was 2am. I cut the lights and went to bed. It was time to let go.
I wanted it to happen. Sure I’d hurt a few, but the truth does that. And I just can’t keep going on like this. I said what I needed to say and that’s enough I suppose. Funny how I easily get over things when they end badly. That’s partly the reason I wanted to look like I bungled it again. Maybe I’d fool myself a little. Maybe fate will be merciful further down the road. Of course, I’m hoping once again.
“Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness.”
Ah… the viscious cycle.
So I thought I’d revel in celibacy for a while. I’ve got the cars… I’ll be a career person… Got a boat load of heavy rock to help me through it…
“It wouldn’t work out anyway…”
“I’m happier this way…”
Who am I kidding?
It’s not for me this time.
1.20.2005
Sweet Dreams Are Made Of...
I've finally sold out.
I stayed up late last night and watched the live telecast of American Idol.
It wasn't to find out who'd be the next American Idol, it was to see who had the gall and self delusion to think they actually had a chance. For an hour and a half, I wasn't, even for one second, disappointed.
To give credit where it is due, there were thos who were truly talented. Perhaps what helped them shine were the hordes of people who weren't.
Is it part of American culture to be delusional?
Besides the one girl who was indeed unquestionably delusional (and somehwat schizophrenic), there were many who believed they actually could sing, using any, and all excuses to make it to the next cut. They've heard it all: God sent me, it's my destiny, I believe I am... Lord, what fools these mortals be.
Perhaps the most admirable person in the show is Simon. He's managed to stay honest (I dare not preceed it with 'brutally') despite the constant attacks on his opinion and integrity. It's hard to be truthful, even to criticize constructively, when some would rather exist in an alternate reality - some lofty, self-promoting prallel dimension.
It seems the American Dream ('fat like a chocolate eclair'), as much as it has been implanted in many refugees' minds still pulls heartstrings in Americans. They'd risk so much just to be there - sad stories about leaving families, splitting bands, and selling wedding rings just to pursue a dream. Sure it's touching, more apt to cap the nightly news rather than American Idol. After all, the question is 'Can you sing?' not 'What did you risk to get here?' Any other answer would be a fallacy, remember children?
What's really incredible about the show is how it inspires you to sing out loud yourself. Then you hit the high note, shift into falsetto and realize it's not meant to be. Thank God our feet are firmly planted in front of the TV screen instead of risking it all for some silly crack at being the next superstar.
I stayed up late last night and watched the live telecast of American Idol.
It wasn't to find out who'd be the next American Idol, it was to see who had the gall and self delusion to think they actually had a chance. For an hour and a half, I wasn't, even for one second, disappointed.
To give credit where it is due, there were thos who were truly talented. Perhaps what helped them shine were the hordes of people who weren't.
Is it part of American culture to be delusional?
Besides the one girl who was indeed unquestionably delusional (and somehwat schizophrenic), there were many who believed they actually could sing, using any, and all excuses to make it to the next cut. They've heard it all: God sent me, it's my destiny, I believe I am... Lord, what fools these mortals be.
Perhaps the most admirable person in the show is Simon. He's managed to stay honest (I dare not preceed it with 'brutally') despite the constant attacks on his opinion and integrity. It's hard to be truthful, even to criticize constructively, when some would rather exist in an alternate reality - some lofty, self-promoting prallel dimension.
It seems the American Dream ('fat like a chocolate eclair'), as much as it has been implanted in many refugees' minds still pulls heartstrings in Americans. They'd risk so much just to be there - sad stories about leaving families, splitting bands, and selling wedding rings just to pursue a dream. Sure it's touching, more apt to cap the nightly news rather than American Idol. After all, the question is 'Can you sing?' not 'What did you risk to get here?' Any other answer would be a fallacy, remember children?
What's really incredible about the show is how it inspires you to sing out loud yourself. Then you hit the high note, shift into falsetto and realize it's not meant to be. Thank God our feet are firmly planted in front of the TV screen instead of risking it all for some silly crack at being the next superstar.
1.18.2005
With a Cherry on Top
I put the cherry on top of my birthday cake today with a comment that may have upset some stomachs.
Right after dinner, my sister asked me what it felt like to be 23. I answered, "Well, I know I'm old enough to marry without parental consent." Mom gave me an angry look before continuing sipping her soup. Dad retorted, "Every girl your age knows that too," subtly suggesting and reinforcing Sister's 'Pikot' theory.
It's not like I had anyone in mind, nor did I even had the most ill conceived plans to set into motion.
It's just one of those things that hit me in that moment.
The very law believes that I, any youth in this age is old enough (in the law and lawmakers' belief) and capable enough to make that crucial life altering decision. Ask any parent and they'd rewrite it to prohibit illicit sex until we're all 25.
The beauty about quarter life of nearing it is that it encompasses the best of both worlds. It has the reckless abandon of youth coupled with the little with the confidence of age. Perhaps a more generous proportion of the reckless abandon of youth.
So perhaps now is the best time to get a little crazy. After all we've got that "Youth is wasted on the youth" excuse to back us up... just as long as we don't abandon too much recklessly and call upon the aged wisdom once in a while.
Right after dinner, my sister asked me what it felt like to be 23. I answered, "Well, I know I'm old enough to marry without parental consent." Mom gave me an angry look before continuing sipping her soup. Dad retorted, "Every girl your age knows that too," subtly suggesting and reinforcing Sister's 'Pikot' theory.
It's not like I had anyone in mind, nor did I even had the most ill conceived plans to set into motion.
It's just one of those things that hit me in that moment.
The very law believes that I, any youth in this age is old enough (in the law and lawmakers' belief) and capable enough to make that crucial life altering decision. Ask any parent and they'd rewrite it to prohibit illicit sex until we're all 25.
The beauty about quarter life of nearing it is that it encompasses the best of both worlds. It has the reckless abandon of youth coupled with the little with the confidence of age. Perhaps a more generous proportion of the reckless abandon of youth.
So perhaps now is the best time to get a little crazy. After all we've got that "Youth is wasted on the youth" excuse to back us up... just as long as we don't abandon too much recklessly and call upon the aged wisdom once in a while.
1.14.2005
Headroom
I've been procrastinating long overdue headworks on Destiny.
I called the shop to check on my baby and they said she'd be done by tonight. Take note that I just dropped her off last night. Now why on earth was I so lazy to have her fixed in the first place?
By tonight, she'll be rid of a pesky backfire, tuned to ideal timing, and have just the right amount of backpressure. All this with nothing more than the typical chug of the flat four.
And just in time for tomorrow's races too.
14 seconds? Maybe not, but she'll look damn good running the 400.
I called the shop to check on my baby and they said she'd be done by tonight. Take note that I just dropped her off last night. Now why on earth was I so lazy to have her fixed in the first place?
By tonight, she'll be rid of a pesky backfire, tuned to ideal timing, and have just the right amount of backpressure. All this with nothing more than the typical chug of the flat four.
And just in time for tomorrow's races too.
14 seconds? Maybe not, but she'll look damn good running the 400.
1.13.2005
Tribute to the 90's
From mid-decade to mid-decade
You know you’re old when you can relate to practically every little item on a show like “101 Reasons the 90’s Were Cool.”Ah the 90’s; the only decade (so far) I’ve lived through and understood. Don’t get me started on the 80’s.
Underdogs ruled.
The typical archetypes were scrapped for unlikely antiheroes, putting some self-doubt into a world that was getting overconfident, and admittedly, quite boring.
Movies
Two words: Bad Boys
Rap was cool, Miami was the place to be, and a Porsche could ALWAYS kick a Cobra’s ass, oh and Tea Leoni… Plot? Who cares?!? It was kick-ass.
Perhaps banking on Nostradamus’ prophecies were the emergence of Apocalypse movies. No one really believed it, but it sure kept us at the seat of our pants.
TV
It wasn’t Friends, Ally McBeal, or those career dramas that caught my attention. What did it for me was Frasier. Why? Put the words Dateless, Desperate, Epicurean, Uptight, and Neurotic into one show. It had all of the makings of a good tele-drama but this was a sitcom, ladies and gentlemen. Suddenly, it was cool to be condescending.
Cartoons
Animation took a startling turn toward maturity, churning out frighteningly serious cartoons, owing to the success of Akira. Sure they were about world domination with a few sexual innuendos squeezed in between, but that was stuff reserved for live-action movies.
I never thought I’d hear my dad prohibit me from watching cartoons.
The Maxx, Aeon Flux, The Head, Beavis and Butthead, and Ghost in the Shell…
Thank you.
Music
You either loved Alanis and hated the Backstreet Boys, or vice versa. This was Alanis before she became a deranged hippie, mind you.Yes, the Pop vs Alternative war was intense minus the Eastside vs Westside violence of Hip Hop. Alanis left a generation of kids questioning what 'Ironic' really meant, No Doubt was popular on 'Sunday Mornings,' and everyone just wanted to 'Push.'
Eraserheads and Rivermaya rocked the OPM scene and Filipino songs, were finally taking the forefront. Music was great when pirated CD's were unheard of. You actually wouldn't mind parting with P375.
Cars
Picking up the pieces from the failed Box-type movement was the automotive industry, finally showing fruits of American Keiretsu’s. BMW’s were still bad-ass though boxy. Yet what really shook the world were the fourpots from the land of the rising sun, waving a flag that numbered the days of the V8. Everyone wanted an SIR. Everyone else had to get a 16 valve or were left in the dust.
Video Games
Need for Speed and Gran Turismo were in fierce competition. Supercars were nice but most people needed something a little closer to home. Who wouldn’t want to buy a car spec library that gave you an excuse to play too. Soup up your four door and kick V8 butt suffering from understeer all the while. The Playstation put PC users to woe, consoles would take back the gaming world.
Books
Michael Crichton called all the geeks out of the woodwork, making us all realize that we can’t beat technology. Tom Clancy was there too but we’ve had too much of government conspiracies already. It was the private multimillion dollar companies we had to fear.
Fashion Trends
Admit it, you had a pair of Doc Martens. Whether concealed between jeans or accessorized with all sorts of apparel, they just had to be seen, highlighting the strange uncoordinatedness in all of us. I held on to my large and bulky shoes as long as I could, but time had other plans.
Tech
From beepers to celphones, we just had to embrace technology. Privacy was never an issue, it was a need to stay connected, the more ways to do so, the better. And since it was all advancing faster than the space program, why fight it?
Ah the net, the invention of the nineties that allows me to share my very thoughts with you now. How can one even have a life without it these days? Every insignificant person could finally justify that he existed with some phrases separated by dots and slashes, and a “.html” to end it with.
It was a great decade for the underdogs, the outcasts and the maligned. It was one of those rare decades that showed promise for everyone. We believed we could change the world, and we did.
You know you’re old when you can relate to practically every little item on a show like “101 Reasons the 90’s Were Cool.”Ah the 90’s; the only decade (so far) I’ve lived through and understood. Don’t get me started on the 80’s.
Underdogs ruled.
The typical archetypes were scrapped for unlikely antiheroes, putting some self-doubt into a world that was getting overconfident, and admittedly, quite boring.
Movies
Two words: Bad Boys
Rap was cool, Miami was the place to be, and a Porsche could ALWAYS kick a Cobra’s ass, oh and Tea Leoni… Plot? Who cares?!? It was kick-ass.
Perhaps banking on Nostradamus’ prophecies were the emergence of Apocalypse movies. No one really believed it, but it sure kept us at the seat of our pants.
TV
It wasn’t Friends, Ally McBeal, or those career dramas that caught my attention. What did it for me was Frasier. Why? Put the words Dateless, Desperate, Epicurean, Uptight, and Neurotic into one show. It had all of the makings of a good tele-drama but this was a sitcom, ladies and gentlemen. Suddenly, it was cool to be condescending.
Cartoons
Animation took a startling turn toward maturity, churning out frighteningly serious cartoons, owing to the success of Akira. Sure they were about world domination with a few sexual innuendos squeezed in between, but that was stuff reserved for live-action movies.
I never thought I’d hear my dad prohibit me from watching cartoons.
The Maxx, Aeon Flux, The Head, Beavis and Butthead, and Ghost in the Shell…
Thank you.
Music
You either loved Alanis and hated the Backstreet Boys, or vice versa. This was Alanis before she became a deranged hippie, mind you.Yes, the Pop vs Alternative war was intense minus the Eastside vs Westside violence of Hip Hop. Alanis left a generation of kids questioning what 'Ironic' really meant, No Doubt was popular on 'Sunday Mornings,' and everyone just wanted to 'Push.'
Eraserheads and Rivermaya rocked the OPM scene and Filipino songs, were finally taking the forefront. Music was great when pirated CD's were unheard of. You actually wouldn't mind parting with P375.
Cars
Picking up the pieces from the failed Box-type movement was the automotive industry, finally showing fruits of American Keiretsu’s. BMW’s were still bad-ass though boxy. Yet what really shook the world were the fourpots from the land of the rising sun, waving a flag that numbered the days of the V8. Everyone wanted an SIR. Everyone else had to get a 16 valve or were left in the dust.
Video Games
Need for Speed and Gran Turismo were in fierce competition. Supercars were nice but most people needed something a little closer to home. Who wouldn’t want to buy a car spec library that gave you an excuse to play too. Soup up your four door and kick V8 butt suffering from understeer all the while. The Playstation put PC users to woe, consoles would take back the gaming world.
Books
Michael Crichton called all the geeks out of the woodwork, making us all realize that we can’t beat technology. Tom Clancy was there too but we’ve had too much of government conspiracies already. It was the private multimillion dollar companies we had to fear.
Fashion Trends
Admit it, you had a pair of Doc Martens. Whether concealed between jeans or accessorized with all sorts of apparel, they just had to be seen, highlighting the strange uncoordinatedness in all of us. I held on to my large and bulky shoes as long as I could, but time had other plans.
Tech
From beepers to celphones, we just had to embrace technology. Privacy was never an issue, it was a need to stay connected, the more ways to do so, the better. And since it was all advancing faster than the space program, why fight it?
Ah the net, the invention of the nineties that allows me to share my very thoughts with you now. How can one even have a life without it these days? Every insignificant person could finally justify that he existed with some phrases separated by dots and slashes, and a “.html” to end it with.
It was a great decade for the underdogs, the outcasts and the maligned. It was one of those rare decades that showed promise for everyone. We believed we could change the world, and we did.
1.04.2005
Project: Sleeper
I thought I'd try a little experiment over the break.
It's all about a facade.
A tamer less capable facade, that's proven nothing, so far, but hamper my abilities. This facade is turning out to be more realistic than I planned.
I'm still getting used to it.
Why?
Aesthetics and a little bit of camouflage.
After all, any good performance artist will tell you.
=enter SWORDFISH QUOTE=
"It's all about misdirection."
=end SWORDFISH QUOTE=
Show them what they want to see. Hide all of your weaknesses, or at least, the ones you don't want them to see.
Any good sleeper car projects that very image.
Any lack of intimidation can lead to underestimation in the quartermile, and eventually the handicap that can hand over the lead in a split second.
There are lot of ideas associated with a certain image, and consequenlty, a certain performance bar they'd expect based on that preconceived notion; simply projecting a set of notions based on a popular image. A set of scripted reaction follows, as a result of the visual cue. These scripted maneuvers are knowledgeable by everyone, thereby making each move of the opposition predictable.
Cheating you say?
Advertising does it all the time. We all know that being white isn't all that, but skin whitening commercials make you believe it irregardless.
And the result?
Sales. You're still sold despite your better judgement telling you otherwise.
So why all the effort for a facade? It's about changing the terrain of the battlefield to a more knowledgable arena, by manipulating reactions. You wouldn't find a horsedrawn cart in the city. So when you see one, you think, "country," and a rolling set of images of rolling country side and lush greens soon follow. What this does is develop confusion in the mind of the opponent. There they are struggling for a piece of reality amidst the conflicting environment - the very environment created by the stereotype facade. A confused enemy, is the easiest to take down. In the flurry of panic, all focus is lost and optimum performance diminished.
A. So does all that effort really make a difference? B. Or have I just managed to confuse you?
Answers:
A. Maybe not. B. Yes, I lost you didn't I?
Hell, let's just shake things up, for fun.
It's all about a facade.
A tamer less capable facade, that's proven nothing, so far, but hamper my abilities. This facade is turning out to be more realistic than I planned.
I'm still getting used to it.
Why?
Aesthetics and a little bit of camouflage.
After all, any good performance artist will tell you.
=enter SWORDFISH QUOTE=
"It's all about misdirection."
=end SWORDFISH QUOTE=
Show them what they want to see. Hide all of your weaknesses, or at least, the ones you don't want them to see.
Any good sleeper car projects that very image.
Any lack of intimidation can lead to underestimation in the quartermile, and eventually the handicap that can hand over the lead in a split second.
There are lot of ideas associated with a certain image, and consequenlty, a certain performance bar they'd expect based on that preconceived notion; simply projecting a set of notions based on a popular image. A set of scripted reaction follows, as a result of the visual cue. These scripted maneuvers are knowledgeable by everyone, thereby making each move of the opposition predictable.
Cheating you say?
Advertising does it all the time. We all know that being white isn't all that, but skin whitening commercials make you believe it irregardless.
And the result?
Sales. You're still sold despite your better judgement telling you otherwise.
So why all the effort for a facade? It's about changing the terrain of the battlefield to a more knowledgable arena, by manipulating reactions. You wouldn't find a horsedrawn cart in the city. So when you see one, you think, "country," and a rolling set of images of rolling country side and lush greens soon follow. What this does is develop confusion in the mind of the opponent. There they are struggling for a piece of reality amidst the conflicting environment - the very environment created by the stereotype facade. A confused enemy, is the easiest to take down. In the flurry of panic, all focus is lost and optimum performance diminished.
A. So does all that effort really make a difference? B. Or have I just managed to confuse you?
Answers:
A. Maybe not. B. Yes, I lost you didn't I?
Hell, let's just shake things up, for fun.
