apparatus

We've got a new gadget to play with -- an HP laptop with 17" screen. I bought it through the HP store online, as I get a discount there. The relevant specs:
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/4MB L2Cache)
- 17.0" WXGA+ Ultra BrightView Widescreen (1440x900)
- 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 511MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
- 200GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (100GB x 2) running Windows Vista Home Premium.

It's pretty slick but I am still getting used to the new features that come with Vista. All in all though it's pretty similar to Windows XP with some enhancements.

It took me a few hours to get it set up and to uninstall some lame trial software that comes on it, and generally get it configured the way we like it. Still need to install some other applications but we're connected and got the basics running. Hooray for Firefox, woo woo! Stay tuned cuz with this much computer processing firepower we can probably create some pretty cool stuff -- I will probably use it do some video editing and multimedia stuff.

I feel kind of sorry for my old desktop PC which is starting to show its age and pales in comparison to the newcomer. Still it's no slouch, it's a P4 1.7GHz running WinXP. I am thinking of picking up a KVM switch from monoprice.com and being able to switch between the two PCs with one keyboard/monitor/mouse. And it can still serve as a media server, streaming music and videos wirelessly to my PS3 downstairs. So I'm not ready to retire the old machine just yet.

ersatz

So the time came for another oil change for the Lexus, and I made an appointment to drop it off in the morning. I also had a few issues with the driver's seat making creaking noises and with the brake pads making too much dust causing the front wheels to look constantly dirty, and there are actually documented TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) from the manufacturer on these. You can look them up for your car on a site like Alldata or search the forums on a car enthusiast site like ClubLexus.com. Anyways I dropped it off and because it would take several hours to check those issues out as well as do the oil change, they gave me a loaner car.

I was hoping they'd give me a nice Lexus ES350 or an RX350 (the wifey has been wanting one of those) to play around with, but you can imagine my dismay when they said they were out of Lexus loaners that morning. Instead I found myself behind the wheel of ... a base-model Toyota Camry. A dark red one, to boot. Oh joy. And there was an added bonus: firing up the ignition, the most fantastic music blared out of the MP3 stereo system. Some kind of Pakistani pop-techno mix CD, left behind by the previous occupant. Spectacular. So I set off on my way to work, floating my way onto the highway and putting the pedal to the floor, listening to the 4-cylinder engine's wail as the automatic transmission vaguely hunted around between 3rd, 4th and 5th gear. The beats were bumping, sitars playing, vocalists moaning and chanting to the beat, it was good times. But it got even better, because whoever made the CD just couldn't make up their mind -- it went from Pakistani techno to Chris Daughtry to some hard core rap and hip hop all in the blink of an eye.

In some kind of morbid curiousity I had to keep listening, to see what was going to play next. At lunchtime my coworkers commended me on my music choice, to which I had to respond, I had no idea who it even was. It certainly wasn't music representative of the typical Lexus driver demographic, that's for sure. I got one of the Lexus music CDs they give out, it was all jazz and easy listening. No hip hop or techno there.

At the end of the day I took the Camry back to the dealer and traded it for my beloved IS350, freshly washed and gleaming in the dealer lot. But not before ejecting that crazy MP3 CD -- I'm not gonna miss that Camry at all, but I'm taking the beats with me.

racial

I saw this in the Asian supermarket while I was shopping and it kind of put me off ... for the uninitiated the word "gook" is a derogatory racial slur for Asians used in the Vietnam War and here it is, in some kind of Japanese cracker snack! Unbelievable!

And I'm also not sure how it is characterized as Salad, seeing as it looks a lot like Pocky which is cracker stick coated with chocolate. Maybe the orange flavor makes it a salad??? Anyways, that's messed up, man.

flavors

As I have professed in the past, I am a lover of chicken wings, and certainly am willing to go out of my way to find a good chicken wing. They actually opened up a Hooters near my house, but no I haven't been over there yet. However I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are several Wingstop restaurants in the Fremont area -- another option for wings, and not just buffalo-style wings either. If you're not into the bright orange wings they offer various wing flavors such as hickory smoked BBQ, teriyaki, lemon-pepper.

If you go to the website, football Hall-of-Famer Troy Aikman proudly proclaims, "they're the best wings I've ever tasted!" Well I'm not sure I agree with Troy who may have been tackled a few too many times to have any credible sense of taste left. I kind of think he must have part ownership of the chain or something? Anyways the wings are good, but not the best I've had. I recommend the Original Hot and the Garlic Parmesan flavors, but their seasoned french fries are also very good. They're a lot closer to me than University Chicken but UC has bigger wings and tastier sauce. That's too bad because WS is on my way home from work and I can see myself going there a lot more often. To add to the convenience they even accept online orders at the once closest to me, and I can place my order at work with a few clicks and pick it up on the way home! Pretty cool. And when you sign up for the online account they sent me a coupon for a free order of fries for the next order, very nice.

In summary I don't think Wingstop provides as memorable a dining experience as a place like University Chicken or House of Chicken and Waffles, but as a convenient place to stop and get some wings when you've got that hankering, it's a good choice.

Also really quick I went and checked out another local burger joint, Mission Burger near Ohlone College. Very good charbroiled burger, a little better than Bob's Burgers and nearly as close to my place. I think I'm going to start hitting them up more often when I feel like a burger.

rehabilitation

I've had a week off from work and plenty of time to think about updating this blog, but of course I've been lazy and decided to spend that time doing other things, like recovering from the madness of trial, eating and playing video games. Spending a lot of time in virtual Miami as Tony Montana in Scarface: The World Is Yours. It's bloody, violent, chock-full of vulgarity, and it's great fun. What other game lets you zoom in and target the left or right testicle of your target before you blast him with your rifle? "Say hello to my lil' friend!"

Also spent time catching up on all the television I missed while I was away at trial. Watched recorded episodes of The Apprentice, Lost, and American Idol. Caught a few Formula 1 races as well. Young F1 rookie Lewis Hamilton is really making a name for himself, finishing in the top 3 in every race he's run so far -- setting a new record in Formula 1 racing. Poor Robert Kubica at BMW, who was a rookie last year and my pick as one to watch this season, has been overshadowed by this young British talent who is racing alongside reigning champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren and wowing everyone with his skill.

I decided as my gift to myself after the trial I would get a new exhaust for my Lexus IS350 -- after having performance exhausts on my other two cars the Lexus was really too quiet for me. I decided on the Tanabe Touring Medallion dual exhaust after hearing it in person on another car -- gives it a nice deep tone and growl without being too loud and obnoxious. It also saves some weight and adds some power over the stock exhaust system so I have some performance benefits as well.

I was going to record some video clips of the new and improved sound, but through the power of the internet, conveniently here is a video someone recorded of the exact same car with the exact same exhaust -- it's even the same color so this looks just like my car. Good stuff.

So now I'm back at work, back in the office -- and suddenly I have time to update my blog. Funny how things work out huh? Happy Friday.